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48
Dental health education
The following activities took place during the year:-
(a) In May and June this subject was featured as a special
topic for health visitors and school nurses.
(b) The Dental Health Education Officer of the Inner London
Education Authority gave talks in eleven primary schools
in the borough during November.
(c) Dental hygiene packs consisting of toothbrush, toothpaste,
rinsing mug and a letter to parents on dental health
education were distributed to as many new entrants to
primary schools as supplies would allow, at the time of
their first routine dental inspection.
(d) Packages of dental health education material were
distributed to interested head teachers to assist teachers
in organising class projects on this subject.
(e) The principal dental officer wrote camera scripts for, and
took part in two video-taped trial productions on dental
health education for the I.L.E.A. Educational Television
Service. These were in the form of short flashes for
insertion between other programmes. After the trial
productions have been evaluated by finding out the reactions
of teachers, educational psychologists and groups of
children to them, it is hoped to produce some video-tapes
for closed circuit broadcast to schools.
In addition, the Inner London Education Authority decided to
purchase equipment and material for a Mobile Dental Health Education
Unit to tour schools in the borough.
By these and other means, it is hoped to stimulate active
participation by pupils in class projects on dental health education
and this is probably the most effective means of motivating a positive
acceptance of oral hygiene. Stress is also laid on the importance of
health education at the chair side to encourage improvement in oral
hygiene and dietary practices and the Council's dental officers
accordingly emphasize preventive aspects as part of clinical treatment.
Health education in schools
Arrangements already in operation continued during 1969. The
following is a summary of activities undertaken.
Ladbroke School (Senior Girls): Regular weekly talks to
fourth year pupils by two Health Visitors. Similar weekly
talk by one Health Visitor to fifth and sixth year pupils.
St. Thomas More H.C.: Weekly talk by Health Visitor to
two groups with approximately 14 girls in each group.
St. Francis R.C. (Junior Girls): Weekly talks by two
Health Visitors to two groups of approximately twenty
children aged 10 to 11 years.
Holland Park School (Senior Girls): Series of five talks
to each of two groups of 15 fourth year girls. This course
has been taught by two health visitors.