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15
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
P. G. Oliver Esq., L. D. S., Principal School Dental Officer:-
This Service provides routine inspection and treatment for
those attending Borough Primary, Secondary, Technical and Special
Schools. A limited number of children from "grant aided" schools
approved by the local Education Committee are also eligible for
treatment. In conjunction with the above Service facilities are
also provided for those referred under Health, Maternity Welfare
and Mental Deficiency Schemes. Particulars of work carried out
in connection with the former will be found in the appropriate
Report.
Introduction
Last year's remarks on the sale of sweets and other fermentable
substances at schools have attracted due attention on the
Education side, and special interest has also been shown by
social workers and those engaged in welfare activities; from
subsequent comments it is clear that earlier information was in
no way exaggerated. Some excellent reporting in the local press
ensured a degree of "home" publicity, and it is hoped that discerning
parents will have given thought to the amount of expendable
income to be set aside for this purpose.
Thanks are due to the Health Education Officer and others
for solid endeavour to bring home to pupils and school staff the
hazards of these sales, also for the distribution of appropriate
literature and scientific data to support the facts.
It is fair to say that comment from the Head Teachers'
Association has shown a measure of sympathy for the dental point
of view and the suggestion that a larger measure of control be
exercised over purchases in future.
As the result of enquiries many older scholars have shown a
definite preference for confections of a savoury nature compared
with those of a "sugary" kind; it also appears that the sale of
apples would be welcomed, at least during the summer months. It
is suggested, therefore, that experiments on these lines might
be made at Grammar and Senior Schools to test the correctness of
these suppositions.
Another aspect of preventive dentistry, namely the addition
of fluorine to public water supplies as a means of rendering
teeth more resistant to decay,has received some recent publicity
Whilst from evidence obtained from natural sources there appears
little doubt regarding the benefits of such schemes, it would
seen undesirable to anticipate the results of the controlled
experiments now in progress in certain areas, by any premature
move locally.