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59
THE DENTAL SERVICES
Mr. M.C. Downer
Principal Dental Officer
STAFF
On 31st December 1969, the staff consisted of the principal
dental officer and one whole-time and one part-time dental officer
supported by four dental surgery assistants,, The vacancies in the
professional establishment arose from one of the full-time dental
officers reverting to part-time employment and from Miss E. Grivins
leaving the Council's service. Our best wishes go with her.
We were pleased to welcome Dr. M.K. McCahon to take over
sessional duties as anaesthetist in the Borough's dental clinics.
TREATMENT
The total number of sessions undertaken during the year was
lower than in 1968 due in part to staff vacancies occuring during
the Autumn and in part to a member of the staff being released for
part-time post graduate education during the first half of the
year. Reductions will thus be seen in the total number of
attendances and in the volume of treatment carried out. Sessional
averages show little variation from the previous year however.
DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Details are included in the section on health education.
COURSES AND CONFERENCES
The principal dental officer completed the post graduate
course in dental public health of the University of London and was
successful in the final examination for the Diploma in Dental
Public Health of the Royal College of Surgeons.
The principal dental officer also visited the Annual Conference
of the British Dental Association in Bournemouth for one day.
SCHOOL DENTAL INSPECTIONS AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF
DENTAL DISEASE PREVALENCE.
Fifteen infant schools and departments, twelve junior schools
and departments and eight senior schools received routine dental
inspections during the year.
In addition to providing a screening examination to detect
children in need of dental treatment, three school dental inspections
were used as an opportunity for more detailed assessments of the
levels of various dental diseases and conditions in children of
different age groups. Although the groups examined were not a true
representation, from a statistical point of view, of all children
within these age groups in the Borough, the information obtained
is none the less of value as an objective indication of the likely
state of dental health of those in particular areas. The data
were collected under standardised conditions using standardised
examination methods recommended by the World Health Organisation.