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51
THE DENTAL SERVICES
STAFF
A number of changes of staff took place during the year the
most important being the resignation of the Principal Dental Officer,
Mr, M.C. Downer, L.D.S.,R.C.S.,D.D.P.H., who obtained a Research
Fellowship in Dental Health at the Turner Dental School of Manchester
University and left the Council's service on 30th September, 1970.
His successor Mr. A. Longden, L.D.S., was appointed in December to
take up his duties early in 1971.
In the previous report reference was made to vacancies in the
professional establishment at the end of 1969. In January, 1970 one
part-time dental officer resumed full time employment and three more
part-time officers commenced duty in February. One of these three
became full time in November, the authorised establishment having
been increased from 4 to 4.6 full time equivalent dental officer
units ,
At the end of the year the four dental clinics were accordingly
staffed by three full time and two part-time dental officers and
running at full capacity except for the four sessions a week allocated
to the Principal Dental Officer. The dental officers were supported
by four dental surgery assistants,
INSPECTION AND TREATMENT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
During the year a total of 18 infant schools and departments, 21
junior schools and departments and 6 senior schools received routine
dental inspections. The number of sessions undertaken and the overall
number of children inspected during the year show little variation
from the 1969 levels. The percentages of inspected children found to
require treatment have fallen and this is mainly responsible for the
lower numbers of visits for treatment,
EVALUATION OF AN UNSUPERVISED PROGRAMME OF ORAL HYGIENE
A survey was undertaken in North Kensington Infants School to
evaluate the unsupervised use of dental hygiene packs, A number of
children selected at random to form study and control groups were
initially examined to ascertain the state of oral hygiene and gum
condition. This was followed by an intensive dental health education
session for the study group children who after a further week were
issued with dental hygiene packs; also letters were sent to their
parents inviting co-operation.
Eight weeks after the first examination a second was performed
and the programme was completed after a further week by conducting a
brief questionnaire among the study group to obtain information on
their oral hygiene practices.
The results of observations were analysed statistically and
findings of significance led to the following conclusions:-