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Conservative Treatment of Permanent Teeth.
The increase of conservative treatment during the last three
years has been a welcome and noticeable feature; the number of
fillings, as compared with 1930, has increased over 100 per cent.
Such an increase has been made possible by concentrating more
on the permanent than on the temporary dentition.
The number of sessions devoted to inspection has also been
reduced in order that more time could be devoted to conservative
work. In consequence, the number of fillings has risen per 100
children treated from 32 in 1930 to 78 in 1934.
The important part that orthodontic treatment has served as
propaganda in teaching the value of conservative dentistry cannot
be overlooked when considering such an increase in reparative
treatments.
In addition to fillings other conservative measures have been
carried out, including zinc oxide and sedative dressings and root
anal treatments; also 20 gum treatments, 114 scalings, 48 applications
of silver nitrate, and 13 dressings to temporary teeth. A
certain number of cappings of exposed nerves in permanent teeth
were executed, and many of these cases have been X-rayed. A
careful record is kept of the cases, which are periodically reexamined,
and it is very gratifying to note that all have responded
well to this treatment. The usual tests as to the vitality of the
teeth have proved the value of this useful conservative measure,
and a number of teeth have thus been saved from extraction.
The Extraction of Permanent Teeth.
It is to be expected that an increase in conservative work will
mean a decrease in extractions. The records show that the
extractions are lower this year than at any time since 1930, when
2,001 teeth were extracted, as compared with 2,005 in 1934. The
"umber of permanent teeth extracted per 100 children treated was
compared with 34 per 100 in 1933. Of the number of
permanent extractions 41 teeth were removed for orthodontic
purposes.
Treatment of Temporary Teeth.
Conservative treatment of the deciduous dentition has
fcreased. The fillings in temporary teeth totalled 548. There
has also been a reduction in the number of teeth extracted.
during the year 9,865 teeth were removed because of their septic
condition.