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THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
The Dental Service deals not only with those attending the
Elementary, Central and Special schools but also a large number of
scholarship holders at Secondary schools. Treatment is, in addition,
provided for patients referred under Maternity and Child Welfare,
Tuberculosis and Mental Deficiency Schemes.
The Dental Staff consists of five full-time Dental Officers,
the equivalent cf one dental officer's time being occupied with work
for the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme.
INSPECTIONS. During the early part of 1940 routine dental inspections
were considerably handicapped by closure of the school premises.
Alternative arrangements for these inspections to take place at the
clinics themselves did not, unfortunately, meet with the response
anticipated.
Out of a normal school population of over 25,000 children, 8,910
were inspected and 6,176 referred for treatment compared with 7,928
inspected and 5,477 referred in 1959.
The percentage of children found in need of dental attention at
school inspections was 69%, that is, the same as that reported for the
year before.
The total number of children with healthy dentitions at the close
of 1910 was 7,162 compared with 7,251 in 1959. This figure represents
2,734 found healthy at inspections and 4,428 rendered artificially so,
compared with 2,451 found sound and 4,800 cured lr.st year.
Sessions devoted to inspections numbered 98 for the year compared
with 59 in 1939.
ATTENDANCES and TREATMENT Though not up to pre-war standards
attendances throughout the year have for the most part been highly
creditable. These stand at 12,591 compared with 15,022 in 1939.
The number of children actually treated was 4,864 compared with
5,696 in 1939. Those cured are shown as 4,428 against 4,800 last year.
The aggregate of treatment sessions was 1,480 against 1,610 in
1939; the ratio of inspection to treatment sessions was 1: 15.1 compared
with 1: 28.6 last year.
FILLINGS INSERTED PER 100 CHILDREN. This figure now stands at 141 against
129 recorded for the previous year and indicates a further increase in
the AMOUNT cf conservative treatment accomplished for each child.