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THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL SCHOOL DENTAL
OFFICER
Since September 1971 the Borough has had the full time use of an I.L.E.A. dental caravan. This is a fully
equipped mobile dental surgery which goes to schools.and provides dental treatment on the premises.
The dental caravan is used mainly for treating children at Special Schools but also visits some primary
schools which are rather distant from the fixed clinics.
Experience has shown that this is a very efficient way of providing dental treatment and is a great
convenience for many parents who would have difficulty in taking their children for treatment during normal
working hours. A further difficulty is the high level of absence at Special Schools because of sickness, which
results in many failed appointments when treatment is being given at fixed clinics. The use of the dental
caravan largely eliminates failed appointments and also reduces any further loss of school time through
having to visit the dentist.
An important advantage from the use of the dental caravan is that the dental staff become part of the school
for several weeks at a time and most children readily accept visiting the dental caravan as merely a part of their
normal school life.
It is hoped to open a dental surgery in the Hammersmith County School in the next few months which will
provide dental treatment for both Hammersmith County and Christopher Wren Schools. So far there has
been little provision of dental facilities at schools except in rural areas as it has always been assumed that in
towns children can travel to fixed clinics without difficulty. In view of the ever increasing need for mothers to
work and the increased cost of public transport it may well be that schools should be provided with dental
facilities whenever practicable.
Dental Inspections
During the year 13,163 children were inspected at schools and clinics and of these 53% required treatment. It
is regretted that only 48% of the school population was inspected compared with 61% the previous year. The
main reason for this decline was the high turnover of staff which inevitably results in a disruption of the
programme of school inspection.
Priority has been given to inspecting nursery schools, special schqpls and primary schools.
Staffing
The dental staff on 31st December, 1972 was:(1971
in brackets) Staffing
Chief Dental Officer
Senior Dental Officers
Full time Dental Officers
Orthodontist (part-time)
Dental Auxiliary
Dental Surgery Assistants
1 (1)
2 (1)
3 (4)
1 (1)
1 (1)
7 (7)
The past year has been a very difficult one for maintaining a full establishment of staff. In common with
many professions there is a high demand for dental staff which leads to a high turnover as staff are able to
move to jobs in other areas offering better working conditions and less difficulty in obtaining housing.
During the year the dental auxiliary and a dental surgery assistant left and were replaced after considerable
difficulty. In addition the senior dental officer, a full time dental officer, and the orthodontist left and were
only replaced after repeated advertising. Approval was given to a second post of senior dental officer which
helps to create a better career structure within the service.
Postgraduate Courses
Dental Officers have attended courses on preventive dentistry, children's dentistry and on the care of
handicapped children. Mr. Jackson, Senior Dental Officer, attended the British Dental Association
conference at Swansea. The dental auxiliary attended the I.L.E.A. in-service training course for dental
auxiliaries.
A new type of course was started by the I.L.E.A. in conjunction with staff from the Royal Dental Hospital.
This is an essentially practical course in children's dentistry and was attended by Mr. Pradham. It is hoped that
these in-service courses will continue on a regular basis so that all dental officers will have the opportunity of
attending.
In October the Chief Dental Officer commenced the course for the Diploma in Dental Public Health. This
course is designed to train Dental Officers in the broad field of public dental health.
Dental Health Education
The Ronson Dental Health Trophy was awarded this yearto Wood Lane Schoolfor their enthusiastic work
in designing posters for dental health.
The I.L.E.A. puppet show visited many of the primary schools and was very well received. Pierre the clown
made a return visit to the Borough and visited over thirty schools and nurseries.
The major part of the work of dental health education is done by the dental auxiliary in visiting schools and
teaching children in the classrooms. In addition a vital part of dental health education is the individual
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