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244
THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Inspection and Treatment of Elementary School Children in 1930.
I am indebted to Mr. W. G. Senior, the senior school dentist,
for the particulars in this section.
A third dental surgeon was appointed to the staff during the
year and commenced his duties at the beginning of April.
The work of the Dental Clinic consists chiefly in the inspection
and treatment of school children, and in addition the
treatment of patients referred under Maternity and Child Welfare,
Tuberculosis, and Mental Deficiency schemes. During the year
the scheme has been extended by the appointment of an additional
dental surgeon, and the opening of a new Clinic in the South
Norwood district. As the extension was in operation for only nine
months of the year the full effect is not likely to be apparent until
the work of 1931 is reviewed. The average number of children
served by each dentist is now 7,000 as against 10,000 for the whole
of England and Wales. Sir George Newman gives 5,000 as a
satisfactory number per dentist under present economic conditions,
and 2,300 under ideal conditions. So far as school children
are concerned the following figures summarise the work done:—
Patients examined 20,710 Patients treated 8,131
Attendances 13,046 Fillings 4,501
Extractions 14,106 "Gas" cases 2,395
Other operations 1,461
Sessions held : —
Inspection 151 Treatment 1,024
Administration 26 Total sessions 1,201
In addition 149 sessions were occupied in other than school
work. £363 18s. 6d. was received from patients for treatment,
and £18 15s. 10d. voluntary box contributions. The charge for
treatment under all the dental schemes is 6d. per attendance and
1s. 6d. if "gas" is administered. Cases of real necessity are
treated free.
Inspection and Treatment.—Inspection. 151 sessions were
devoted to school inspection, this being an increase of 40 on the
total for 1929, due to the re-inclusion of the five-year-old entrants
and Central School children.