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2. At the School Dental Inspection
Professional consultation with attending parents, pointing out
examples of cause and effect, with concise instructions and
supply of explanatory literature.
3. After School Dental Inspection
Informing the Head Teacher of the results and discussing oral
hygiene found. Follow-up talk by dental health educator to the
children and/or parents at Head Teacher's discretion.
4. At School Dental Clinics
(a) Parents of all children are to be instructed in the origin
and prevention of dental disorders.
(b) Children:
(i) To receive preventive and oral hygiene insiractions.
(ii) Subsequently to be questioned to ascertain their knowledge.
(iii) Constantly to be guided and supervised during their
treatment.
(c) Display of oral hygiene and preventive material on wall
boards in waiting rooms.
It is gratifying to note that, on questioning, the majority of
children and parents previously exposed to the described programme
are now aware of the basic principles. School dental inspections
still do not show the theoretically expected standard of good oral
hygiene, but the standard of "fair" assessment is becoming noticeably
higher in its approach to "good" and cases of gross oral
neglect have definitely approached the point of rarity in children of
average general hygiene.
In February, 1969, a conference was held locally on two
consecutive days, attended by the Borough's Head Teachers of
primary and secondary schools respectively. In my talk on "Dental
Health Education" I outlined the causes of dental disease and its
prevention in general and the practical steps to be taken in the two
age groups.
School Dental Inspections
Annual examination of every pupil throughout school life with
offer of treatment when required is the least of the objectives of our
school dental service for there is no doubt this is the only effective
way of supervising the dental health of the school population both
individually and collectively. However, as previously stated, such
a scheme presupposes adequate clinics and a sufficiency of professional
staff if demand is not to exceed available resources.