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DENTAL SERVICES
Inspection and Treatment
No. of Dental Officers at end of December, 1957 6
No. of sessions carried out per week 20
Two inspection sessions, one extraction clinic (School children)
one extraction clinic (M. & C.W.) 16 fillings sessions
No. of children on waiting list 454
No. of children on waiting list in 1956 1,992
No. of children inspected in 1957 2,469
No. of children inspected in 1956 1,847
No. of treatment sessions in 1957 483
No. of treatment sessions in 1956 419
No. of children who received treatment 1,169
Dental Sessions
There has been a gratifying increase in the number of part time dentists on the
staff, and as the clinic session figures and number of children treated show, this has
provided a much improved dental service during the year. There is still an urgent need
for more dental staff for conservative treatment as much of the time of the present staff
is, of necessity, taken up with extraction sessions for urgent cases.
Preventive dentistry is still a dream for the future, failing the widespread introduction
of fluoridation of water supplies, and until the national dearth of dentists is improved
it will remain possible to give treatment only to those already affected with dental caries.
The possibility of employing oral hygienists—dental auxiliaries—who can carry out
routine inspections and give minor treatment in early cases is being considered in some
areas and could relieve the pressure on the fully qualified dentists in the future by the
early diagnosis of caries in mass school inspections.
Until such time as a fully organized dental service for the children and expectant
mothers comes into being we can only report a patchy service working under pressure
in as many of our clinics as we can staff from time to time.
The opening of Oxlow Lane Clinic in the late summer, where the twin dental suite
and recovery room provide up to date equipment in a bright and colourful atmosphere
has enormously increased the popularity of the school dental service during the year.
Provision of an X-ray unit in the clinic has facilitated improved treatment and enabled
the dental staff to treat cases which in the past had to be referred elsewhere.
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