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NUMBER OF TREATMENT SESSIONS
The reduction in staff produced a corresponding reduction in the totals of individual
dental operations and in patients discharged, but it is gratifying to note in table (iii) a
continued improvement in the number of permanent teeth conserved to those extracted.
In the past ten years this ratio has improved from 3.86 to 9.10. General clinical observation
throughout the year confirms the belief that children who attend the Council's treatment
centres are now receiving a better service than formerly and it is expected that early official
recognition of the necessity for revisional treatment will soon raise the standard still
further. In 1961 it was still necessary to use a spread-over policy for dental attention
throughout the school population but during the year increasing expressions on the part
of parents of preference for 'private' treatment gave hopes for the possibility of routine
revisional work for children who continue to attend our centres. It is a matter of concern
that many parents who state their wish to have their children treated by their 'private'
dentist do not see that the treatment is obtained; at subsequent inspections two out of
every three children are still found to be in need of treatment. It is difficult to approach
parents and urge provision of 'private' treatment. During 1961 much thought was given
to exploring schemes for 'contracting in' or 'contracting out' of the Council's dental
services by parents and means of improving the service for those who might 'contract in'.
As far as possible, treatment sessions were held out of school hours to meet the wishes
of teachers to prevent disruption of school instruction but staff response was low. With
the same object in view, treatment centres were kept open during school holidays but
attendance was lower than for school time sessions.
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