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During the year under review, of the 35,967 children on the school roll, 26,259
were inspected, this being 73% of the total (1965 National Figure 55%). Of those
inspected 9,921 (38%) were found to require treatment (1965 National Figure 53%)
and 9,519 (96%) were offered treatment (1965 National Figure 87%). Of the 9,519
offered treatment 6,668 (70%) accepted treatment through the school dental service
(1965 National Figure 61%). During the year, therefore, the school dental service
treated 19% of the children on the school roll (1965 National Figure 17%), but it
must be remembered that some parents arrange dental treatment through the
general dental service.
The scope of the service included not only the day special schools but also
Wavendon Residential Special School for educationally subnormal girls.
In addition to the ordinary dental treatment described, the orthodontic service
continued to be much in demand. Treatment was commenced on 203 new cases,
153 cases completed treatment, and a total of 6,275 attendances were made.
The Borough is fortunate in the standard of its premises and equipment. There
are nine clinics providing dental suites with a total of 13 dental surgeries, one
surgery being used exclusively for orthodontics and three surgeries being of dual
purpose for dentistry and orthodontics. Four of the premises are of very recent
construction and modern design, and all premises are fitted with up-to-date equipment,
including air turbine high-speed instruments. For greater convenience, all
anaesthetic apparatus is standard throughout (Walton) as are also the X-ray
machines.
All dental prosthetic and orthodontic appliances are made at the Dental
Laboratory, maintained by a neighbouring authority, and 13 dentures, 569 removeable
appliances and 107 fixed appliances were supplied. The Principal School
Dental Officer reports:—
“It is unfortunate that the school dental service continues to remain understaffed,
despite advertising. By mid-1967 the salaries of National Health Service
dentists will have increased appreciably, and this may well cause a repeat of the
disastrous situation of 1948-1951 when the school dental service lost one-fifth of
its effective strength. This would be most unfortunate at a time when parents are
making a greater demand for treatment.
“Dental Health Education has undoubtedly influenced this greater interest.
An intensified campaign was held during March and April, when a small dental
health exhibition was displayed for a period of one week at each of the clinics,
and posters were prominently displayed on hoardings, in clinics and schools.
“Owing to fluctuations in the staffing situation the number of sessions devoted
to general dental treatment was 424 less than in the previous year. The result of
this fall in the number of sessions was a reduction in the total output of work in
general compared with 1965. This was inevitable in the circumstances. Nevertheless,
the average output of dental officers per session had slightly improved, the
number of attendances and of fillings and the ratio of permanent teeth filled to
those extracted, all have shown an upward trend.
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