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REPORT OF PRINCIPAL SCHOOL DENTAL OFFICER
Dental Staffing
Constant problems in regard to the recruitment and retention of staff have resulted
in school dental inspections falling below the required standard. It is well recognised
that dental surgeons tend to seek employment at local authority clinics whilst they
are deciding on the right sphere of work for their future employment. There has also
been difficulty in recruiting and retaining dental surgery assistants.
Incidence of Caries
Dental decay had not been arrested, but until the fluoridation of the water supplies
is possible, each filling can be viewed as a lost cause.
Orthodontic Dental Service
The orthodontic dental service shows an increase as people realise the benefits to
be derived from this service. It is gratifying to know that a greater awareness of this
treatment has taken place and has resulted in many more patients seeking advice.
Dental Appointments
The number of failed appointments is a matter of some concern, since this leads
to a waste of professional and administrative time. I think it is undeniable that with
more mothers working, children tend to forget the keeping of an appointment for what
a child considers to be not a very pleasant experience.
With the failure rate growing, the dental health of the child suffers and, to abate
the loss of clinic time, it is obvious that consideration will need to be given to a
greater number of appointments being made which should then reflect an increase in
the number of patients treated.
The Dental Laboratory
The Dental Laboratory continues to function at a high level of efficiency and
orthodontic appliances remain the main bulk of the work undertaken. The Authority
has been fortunate in retaining the service of experienced and efficient dental
technicians at a time when there are often more attractive opportunities for
employment elsewhere.
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