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School Dental Service
The Area Dental Officer, Mr. V. Sainty, L.D.S., reports there have
been several staff changes during 1956. One full-time dental officer
resigned in June, a part-time one, becoming full-time from July 1st, took
over the post. Another dental officer resigned his full-time appointment,
but remained on a part-time sessional basis. Also there have been other
part-time changes in personnel. The net result has been one less full-time
staff than in 1955, viz. seven including the Area Dental Officer, as compared
with eight, plus approximately the same amount of part-time
assistance. This decrease in full-time dental officers emphasises the
general trend of a growing difficulty in replacing resignations in the
service other than by part-time appointments, and these are sometimes
of short duration.
In spite of the somewhat less favourable staff situation, compared with
the previous year, the amount of treatment carried out has shown little
change; in fact as regards fillings inserted in permanent teeth there was
a small increase, 15,992, as against 15,537 in 1955.
The ratio of fillings to permanent teeth extractions was also better,
viz. 12.2:1 as compared with 11.4:1.
During the year 19,134 children were inspected at the schools by the
dental officers. All age-groups in many of the schools have had an annual
inspection during the last two years.
Orthodontic Clinic
It has not yet been possible to extend this work beyond the six-seven
session a week basis and consequently there is still the same long waiting
list for treatment, in spite of the quite considerable number of cases
treated by some of the dental officers.
At the moment the orthodontic situation seems to be the most urgent
problem requiring solution.
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