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121
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Report of the Principal School Dental Officer, Mr. P. G.
Oliver.
The principal function of this Service is the carrying out of
routine inspection and treatment for those attending Borough
Primary, Secondary, Technical and Special Schools. "Free-place"
scholars at certain non-maintained schools approved by the local
Education Committee are also eligible for treatment.
Under the above aegis facilities are also provided for those
referred under Maternity and Child Welfare and Mental Deficiency
Schemes. Particulars of work carried out in connection
with the former will be found in the appropriate Report.
Introduction
For the first time for many years an appreciable improvement
can be discerned in the position of the local Service both as regards
inspection and treatment; there would also appear to be some
encouraging signs of an easing in the staffing position.
Though applicants for full-time posts remain a scarcity,
offers of part-time assistance have increased in number and but
for limitations in surgery accommodation bolder measures could
have been entertained in 1953. Whilst numerically staff has
remained at last year's equivalent of approximately six full-time
officers, the gradual build-up in part-time personnel has had a
cumulative effect, and the scheme has therefore been in a much
stronger position to deal with the increased school population.
Because of this many more schools were visited than
previously, and the general turn round of cases was substantially
accelerated.
J hough the treatment of casuals continued to represent a
serious problem it is hoped that with more frequent offers of
treatment this can be reduced to reasonable proportions.
I here would appear to be a further slight increase in the
number of children obtaining treatment through the General
Pactitioner Service, though how much of this is of a regular
nature is at present difficult to ascertain; an apprisal of the