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DENTAL SERVICES
I am indebted to the Principal Dental Officer for the following
report
School Dental Service
The School Dental Service was able during 1968 to provide full Dental
Treatment for any school child in the Borough receiving education from the
Local Authority including those in special school. The Bentry School was
given one morning per week for treatment of pupils who wish to use our
Dental Clinics. The percentage of the school roll inspected in 1968 was
56% compared with 47% in 1967, the number of patients treated in 1968 was
also a great improvement on the 1967 figure.
Conservation and Orthodontic Treatment
I am happy to report that there was a big increase in this field of
treatment and that the trend to save teeth rather than extract them is on
the increase. The amount of orthodontic treatment carried out during the
year was very satisfactory.
Dental Health Education
The members of the Dental Staff, did an excellent job of work in this
very important field of every day dental work. Dental Health talks were
given to various schools and I am pleased to say that some schools asked
for these talks. This is a step in the right direction, although I feel
that a co-ordinated health education programme in association with
individual effort is essential.
Staffing
The staffing position remained as in 1967. Advertisements for dental
officers in The British Dental Journal did not receive any replies. I would
like to thank the staff for their efforts in increasing productivity in
1968.
Maternity and Child Welfare Dental Services
Treatment was available at Dental Clinics in the Borough for expectant
and nursing mothers and children under five years old. There was a slight
decrease in the number of expectant mothers wishing treatment but the figures
for the under fives are still very satisfactory. I have this year brought
this service to the notice of parents by mentioning it in notices of school
dental inspections and I hope that this method may help to increase the
number of under fives wishing to have treatment. Our Dental Auxiliaries
play a big part in this very important work, however, I feel that a greater
degree of co-operation between the Health Education Officer, Assistant
Medical Officers, Health Visitors and the Principal School Dental Officer could
help to get this service into its proper place, which is in my opinion, first
in priority in the dental service.
General Comments
I feel that there is need to review the Dental Services of the Borough
with a view to some form of centralisation of the service to achieve
essential rationalisation of treatment and administrative procedures. I also
hope that in the future more use can be made of Dental Auxiliaries. With this
in view I hope my suggestion made in 1967 to establish a third surgery at
Oxlow Lane Clinic will be given consideration, this would be one of the best
ways of increasing the output of work in the maternity and child welfare section.
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