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Dental Services
During the year the number of Maternity and Child Welfare dental sessions rose to
130, an increase of 46% over 1967.
The trend towards more fillings and fewer extractions continued. The number of
fillings was almost twice that of the previous year, and extractions fell by a quarter. There
was further reduction in the demand for treatment by expectant and nursing mothers. Experience
has shown that the holding of special M and C.W. sessions is not warranted and
mothers and children under five may now attend at any ordinary treatment session.
Dental Health Education
The number of sessions spent on Dental Health Education increased from 4 in 1967
to 24 in 1968. Visits were made to day nurseries and to mothers' clubs and welfare centres,
at which the dental auxiliary gave talks and film shows on the subject of dental health.
These visits were well received, and in December a puppet show, specially divised for child
audiences, was shown at all except one of the day nurseries. The election of the dental
auxiliary to a place on the departmental Health Education Committee Working Party provided
a very valuable means of co-operation with health visitors and other staff in the
promotion of dental hygiene.
Guy's Hospital
The appointment in April of the Chief Dental Officer to an Honorary part-time
post in the Dental Department for Children of Guy's Hospital was an important step in
furthering the degree of co-operation between the Borough and the hospital dental services.
This was in keeping with the Department of Education and Science Circular on the desirability
of such links between teaching hospitals and the local authority.
Inspection and treatment of children in junior training schools was discussed with
Professor Tulley of Guy's Dental Department and a preliminary inspection was heldatone
junior training school.
At a number of Borough day nurseries the children took part in a toothpaste investigation
carried out by the Research Department of Guy's Hospital Dental School.
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