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Area's 34,000 school children have continued during 1968. The greatly improved image
which was achieved during 1967 has been maintained and the confidence shown by the
children, parents, teachers, administrators and professional colleagues working within
and without the Borough's Health Services augurs well for the future. The progress which
has been made towards achieving an efficient and comprehensive dental service stems from
the combination of a young, happy and enthusiastic professional staff with the atmosphere
which the modernization of clinics and their equipment produces.
A review of most aspects of the dental service was contained in the 1967 report and
this will not be repeated here. The principles and methods described therein continue to
apply and it is hoped that the following remarks under similar headings will be read in
conjunction with that report.
Prevention
The complete prevention of dental disease whilst a very practical possibi1ity in
individual and enthusiastic cases where dental personnel, parents and children are willing
to co-operate and to devote time and money on the procedures involved is still a rather
remote objective when considered on a community basis. The chairside time involved
counselling each child and their parents in the preventive oral hygiene procedures
(including the use of a fluoride containing toothpaste) which can be carried out at home
the analysis and control of the cariogenic features of our modern diet, and the strengthening
of erupted teeth by the topical application of solutions which will reduce the amount
of dental decay, is considerable and cannot be given to more than a small proportion of our
potential patients. This essential part of our dental service is therefore only available
to those parents and children who really care and come regularly to our clinics for
treatment and advice.
Prevention on a mass community can only be achieved by community measures and the
most effective measure-the fluoridation of our water supplies is still not available to
the Borough's children. The Council has been on record since 1965 as being in favour of
fluoridation wi th the overwhelming majority of all the Local Authorities in the Metropolitan
Water Board's area also being in favour. Perhaps 1969 may see an increase in the
vociferous demand which will influence the Board to accede to the will of the majority of
parents and the dental needs of all the children in the Board's area.
During the year, in conjunction with the London Hospital Medical Col lege Dental School,
a clinical trial of a fluoride containing mouthwash was commenced in two of the Area's
secondary schools. Whilst the anticipated reduction in dental disease may not be as high
as that which would be obtained from the fluoridation of water it may be found that this
administratively difficult but attractive method of getting fluoride to children's
teeth is a second best measure which could be used in other schools in the Borough.
The effect of dental health education procedures and school dental inspections,
particularly where they are combined with the use of dental health stamps and school
dental counselling several times a term by dental auxiliaries in each class in all our
primary schools, results in a vastly increased demand for treatment and attendance "at the
dentist'. It is reasonable to assume that the most effective preventive measure available
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