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Courses Attended during the year 1970
The Senior Dental Officer attended a course in orthodontics. Dental surgeons
attended a course on children's dentistry at the London Hospital and several also
attended a two-day symposium on the treatment of mentally handicapped children
at Guy's Hospital.
The Chief Dental Officer went to a course in crown work at the London Hospital.
The four dental auxiliaries attended post-graduate meetings.
All dental nurses attended a day course in radiography held at Kodaks.
Dental Health Education
The ever-popular puppet show with Jimmy Germ and Paul Molar as the leading
stars did a grand tour of the infant schools with Mrs. Munday and Miss Ludkin
back-stage.
A start has been made in the distribution of oral hygiene packs to all the five-yearolds
of the Borough. Mothers of these youngsters are invited too, so that they also
may hear the advice given by the auxiliary on the dental health of their children.
So far, the response is good and it is hoped that this will give an added impetus to
the dental care of the children.
Project Teaching
A fresh approach to the teaching of dental health in senior schools has been undertaken.
Three members of the staff took a class of school leavers at Roger Manwood
School. The children were split into groups and had the opportunity to mix their
own cements and fillings and put them into real cavities. The teeth had been set in
plaster and prepared previously.
The groups then tried out various foods and discovered for themselves by looking
at each other's teeth which foods were the most beneficial to their oral hygiene.
Dental health talks have been given to mothers' clubs and student midwives.
Dental auxiliaries attend the variety of child development clinics throughout the
Borough; this includes the new evening clinic at Lewisham Central.
Orthodontics
The treatment of children who have teeth in a crooked position continues to progress.
The orthodontist, Mrs. A. Ward, works eight sessions a week. It is hoped that there
will be a further expansion of the service when an orthodontic surgery is opened at
78 Lewisham Park in 1971.
SCHOOL FOR DENTAL AUXILIARIES
Mr. T. H. Liptrot, Director, reports:—
The children's dental clinic associated with the School for Dental Auxiliaries continued
to receive the support of the London Borough of Lewisham's Health Department.
The Borough's Chief Dental Officer, Mrs. C. Leeming, maintained her personal
contact with the clinic; her interest and co-operation were greatly appreciated by
the staff and students. The authority's staff of two dental surgeons, two auxiliaries
and two surgery assistants, led by the Senior Dental Officer, Mrs. S. Shillito, have
contributed much to the work of the clinic.
The school is fortunate in the enthusiastic interest it receives from the head
teachers of the schools it serves. Their participation in the arrangements for treatment
of the children is of a high order and their co-operation in the teaching of
dental health to the pupils is of great assistance to the staff and students.
During 1970 the auxiliary students under the supervision of the dental surgeons
on the staff of the school, carried out 12,455 operations for school children, nearly
10,000 of them being fillings in permanent and deciduous teeth.
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