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in a considerable "work load" developing in that area. A balance has to be
maintained between the various aspects of the service; inspection, treatment,
prevention and health education and constant review has been necessary to
keep the balance right.
Instruction in toothbrushing techniques using disclosing tablets and
application of topical fluorides have formed an essential part of preventive
measures. These procedures are time consuming and the time spent on them
are not always truly reflected in the annual statistics.
Inspection and Treatment
Inspection With a school population of 48,095 it is not easy to achieve
a high percentage of children inspected with the staff available and the
clerical work involved. Both the numbers of sessions and the number of
inspections has increased from last year and nearly reached the peak figure
of 1969. About 60% of the school population had a school inspection,
preference being given to the Infant and Junior Schools.

Treatment There has been an increase on last year of both sessions provided
and of treatment carried out. Unfortunately there has been a slight increase in the
number of permanent teeth extracted but a small but encouraging reduction of
temporary teeth extracted. There has been an increase in both permanent and
deciduous teeth filled compared to the previous year, but a slight increase in
the attendances for emergency treatment. The number of patients accepted as
new orthodontic cases, that is with appliance therapy, remains surprisingly low
but orthodontic advice and where necessary treatment is readily available to those
who desire it. There has been a welcome further reduction in the number of
patients failing to attend.
Arrangements were made for the use of the Inner London Education
Authority mobile, specially designed for handicapped children, to be sited
adjacent to three special schools and the time was well spent in making provision
for the special needs of these children.