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There are only four dentists available for the whole of the
School Population of just under 26,000 children. This figure
approximates to over 6,000 children to each Dental Burgeon, and
exceeds that advocated as a maximum in Circular 1444 of the
Board of Education, viz., 5,000. The latter applies only in the
case of a 50% acceptance for treatment, and as recent returns
now indicate a rate of 60% locally, the discrepancy is thereby
increased. In addition allowance must be made for time spent
with work for the Tuberculosis Scheme which continues to increase
in volume. At least one additional whole-time dentist and dental
attendant is urgently required to make the School Dental Service
approximately adequate. Some of the disabilities caused by the
inadequate staff are easily deduced from a careful perusal of the
work done during the year. It is unfortunately true to say that
a considerable portion of the work in only temporarily palliative
and by being so is merely patching up and not preventative.
Inspections.
The present arrangements allow most of the schools to be
visited only once in two years, consequently a very large number
of defects were disclosed at the inspections.
In the older children most mouths showed at least 4 or 5
teeth that required fillings and several needing extraction. In a
large percentage this is not due to neglect on the children's part
but simply that treatment cannot be offered at frequent enough
intervals to keep pace with the ravages of decay.
Out of a population of 25,740 attending the Elementary and
Central Schools, 14,300 were inspected and 10,255 referred for
treatment compared with 17,747 inspected and 13,498 referred in
1937. The reason that fewer children could be inspected was that
a large amount of work from the previous year had to be completed
before fresh schools could be begun.
The percentage of children suffering from dental disease was
71% as compared with 76% in 1937. This figure should not be
interpreted as necessarily an improvement in the condition of the
mouths, but rather that as many children were forced to seek casual
treatment before their re-inspection could be made.
The number inspected represents 55% of the total school roll
as compared with 68% in 1937. Sessions devoted to inspection
totalled 103 as against 108 the previous year. The smaller number