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An increased number of surgeries were renovated and re-equipped with more
modern apparatus—an improvement aimed at better service resulting from better
working conditions and retention of staff.
Throughout the year recruitment of sufficient dental attendants proved almost
as difficult as engagement of dental officers and in consequence a number of untrained
girls were accepted and, following a brief period of instruction, were posted to duty.
I would like to record my appreciation of the excellent and valuable assistance given by
the dental attendants ; in particular in surgeries staffed by part-time dental officers.
Table I shows the numbers of dental officers at the end of the year with comparative
figures for the preceding two years.
The comparative figures given in Table II relate to the school dental service and
show increases under most headings. In spite of the increase in number of sessions, the
total cases treated fell slightly ; but total attendances rose—an indication that treatment
was, possibly, more thorough and that at least some children attended a greater number
of times to be rendered dentally fit. In attempting an accurate comparison of attendances
in 1956 with previous years' figures, there is some confusion as, for the first time,
attendances for orthodontic treatment are also included in total attendances. The rise in
the number of permanent teeth requiring extraction is to be deplored.