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49
The survey carried out by the Chief Dental Officer on his appointment revealed the urgent necessity
for the introduction of modern dental equipment in the Council's surgeries, the standard of which is
far below that expected by both patients and operators, and might well result in a failure to recruit
new blood into the service when a number of the present staff reach retirement age.
In this connection a Working Party on dental equipment has been set up by the I.L.E.A. of which
the Council's Chief Dental Officer is a member, and as a result of its recommendations it is hoped in
the near future to provide all our surgeries with up-to-date equipment.
The attendances at the Council's Dental Clinics throughout the year continued to show a very
satisfactory improvement and it is very gratifying to note a steep decline in the number of teeth
extracted and a corresponding increase in conservation. Additionally, the services of a Consultant
Orthodontist at Paddington General Hospital have been obtained, and with the increasing awareness
of parents of this very important branch of dentistry a wide expansion of this service is envisaged;
this undoubtedly will be the case with the remainder of the School Dental Service in order to keep
pace with the increasing population and a daily growing demand for dental treatment.
The optional scheme for dental treatment of school children as piloted by the former London County
Council Health Divisions 1 and 9, was introduced into the City Council's service during the latter
part of 1965. As a result, dental inspections in the schools are now carried out only for the five year
old new entrants. The remainder of the pupils are screened by means of an option form presented to
parents, requesting them either to use the School Dental Service or alternatively make arrangements
for treatment to be carried out by their own dental practitioners.
The results of this scheme are being carefully studied by the Chief Dental Officer of this Council,
and the other Inner London Boroughs, and their findings will be published towards the end of 1966.