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106
A number of factors are associated with the future of the school
dental service:—
(a) Increasing goodwill engendered by full, constant and
efficient service with minimal staff changes;
(b) Multiple-surgeried units as opposed to isolated single
surgeries;
(c) Surgeries in schools;
(d) Mobile surgeries;
(e) The development of special services for handicapped
children;
(f) The use of dental auxiliaries.
The overall increase in the numbers inspected at school dental
inspections automatically increases the demand for treatment in
our surgeries. The stability of the staff, its enthusiasm, and the
widening scope of treatment available also intensify the demand
for our services. Allied to this is an increased demand on the
General Dental Service practitioners for treatment shown to be
needed in the course of our inspections. In spite of the occasional
difference in clinical opinion, the overall effect is an increase in
goodwill between the branches of the dental profession.
The increased demand for treatment is more difficult to cope
with in single-surgeried units than in multiple surgeries. Single
units also create problems during staff shortages and illness,
culminating in the cancellation of appointments. With the heavy
increase in the inspection rate, the single unit is less able to cope
with the clerical work involved. The development of strategically
placed multiple units with offices for clerical assistants would
overcome these difficulties. Specialist services such as orthodontics,
treatment of handicapped or maladjusted children could be incorporated
in multiple units.
Mobile surgeries are invaluable in their use at special schools
and have proved very successful at Oak Lodge and Linden Lodge
Schools. However, their use is limited to the time a dental officer
can tolerate working in the restricted conditions which are associated
with a mobile unit. The variety of treatment which can be
carried out tends to be restricted in them and I feel their use would
best be based on the staff of multiple units with rotation of staff
for comparatively short periods. This also applies to surgeries
in schools because, in times of staff shortages, there would be
greater flexibility in the deployment of staff, so avoiding the
cancellation of treatment sessions except in extreme circumstances.
Further flexibility in staff usage is obtainable in larger units by
the employment of dental auxiliaries whose training enables them
to play an important part in both treatment and dental health
education. The association of all categories of staff in larger
multiple units would facilitate the transmission of ideas and