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are organized, the best example of which is the showing of a “Noddy” film at
schools. This understandably makes considerable impact on the children which
it is hoped can be maintained by other measures throughout their school life.
Mr L. C. Mandeville, Chief Dental Officer, reports:—
“The success of a dental service may be judged not by the number of teeth filled
or extracted, but by the number that do not require this attention. Beneficial effects
in this direction can be achieved by a greater public awareness of the importance of
diet in the prevention of dental caries.
The damaging effects of a largely carbohydrate diet, especially when combined
with inadequate tooth cleaning, and the advantages of proteins, fruit and vegetables
as exercising and cleansing foods for the teeth, are subjects of long term dental
health education which are being actively pursued.
The correct mental attitude towards the prevention of dental decay is of considerable
importance. There is much evidence of a growing positive attitude of
self help by adults, including parents, but too many people think of dental decay as
an inevitable minor disability which requires one regularly to visit the dentist in
order to have it put right, and that there is little that one can do about this state of
affairs, beyond perhaps cleaning the teeth.
Perhaps the most effective weapon available at present, and one which again
depends on an active change in social attitudes, is fluoridation of domestic water
supplies. The Borough Council by giving its support for fluoridation has helped
to make its realization more likely, although of course the necessity for general
agreement within the area supplied by one particular water concern means that
fluoridation is still a long way from reality.
An encouraging trend in the last eight years has been the appreciable increase in
the number of five-year-old school entrants found to have caries-free first teeth.
Probably one child in six is now in this desirable condition as against one in 10
previously, but there are still many whose teeth are in a very poor state indeed when
they enter school. If the dental staffing position permits it is hoped during 1966
to carry out a pilot investigation of the dietary habits of the group of five-year-olds
who show no signs of dental decay. The results of such a survey may well provide
a further background of information from which parents of very young children
can be advised about their offspring's teeth.
The percentage of children inspected and found to require treatment (53 per cent.)
is approximately the figure that has been observed in the area for several years now,
but it will be appreciated it does not take account of the amount of treatment required
by each child. The ratio of permanent teeth filled to permanent teeth extracted
because they could not be saved (16.6 to 1) is a good figure and has risen steadily
over past years. Modern techniques make possible the saving of many more teeth.
Such techniques usually involve greater expenditure of time on individual teeth, but
it is essential that the treatment given to our patients is of the highest standard.
Staff are encouraged to attend post-graduate courses so as to become conversant
with advances in technique, but the number of suitable courses is limited.
The orthodontic service is still much in demand and, with ever increasing public
transport fares, parents are appreciative that such treatment can usually be obtained
fairly near to home. It is impossible to arrange for orthodontic service at all dental
clinics because of the need for specialized apparatus as well as staff, but with four
orthodontic surgeries in the Borough the cover is very adequate.
Provision of modern equipment not only makes for efficient working but is essential
if the right kind of staff is to be attracted. The teaching hospitals are equipped with
the most up-to-date apparatus, and young dental surgeons are usually not prepared
to put up with apparatus that does not conform to the highest standards.
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