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3. Orthodontics
An increasing public awareness of the benefits of a regular
set of teeth, free from unsightly crowding, has led to this branch
of dentistry being more widely practised than ever before. The
results can be most rewarding, and in addition to the dental benefits,
the aesthetic improvement achieved often alters the whole
psychological outlook of the child. Only a comparatively small
proportion of the cases seen require consultant treatment or
advice, but where this is necessary the dental staff have the advantage
of the Consultant Service provided by the North East Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board based at Whipps Cross Hospital,
and also the Consultant Staff at the London Hospital.
Over 200 orthodontic appliances were fitted for patients during
the year, and these were constructed at the Dental Laboratory at
Barking, where the existing arrangements for all technical work
required under the County were continued.
4. General Anaesthetics
The administration of general anaesthetics is mostly confined
to the younger children for the extraction of deciduous teeth and
of the 779 administrations performed during the year, 561 were
for children between the ages of 5 and 9 years. Each clinic is
equipped with modern anaesthetic machines fitted with the special
attachment for delivering Halothane, which is a proved adjuvant
in dental anaesthesia. Servicing of all machines is regularly carried
out by the British Oxygen Company.
5. School Inspections
The inspection of children at all maintained schools has
always been fundamental to the school dental service, but the
true value of these inspections is only now being fully appreciated.
Not only do they provide the means of notifying parents of those
children in need of treatment of the facilities that are available,
but the information that can be obtained from routine school inspections
enables a picture of the condition of teeth in different
schools and areas to be compared, and the prevalence of dental
disease and the extent to which it is being treated can be assessed.
The School Dental Officer is in a unique position to obtain this
information.
Prevention must be the key-word of the Dental Service, and
any information which enables Dental Health Education to be
carried out more intelligently and successfully is valuable.
6. Dental Health Education
Full education means a way of life and health is part of it—
and dental health a significant part. This means that facilities and
time for oral hygiene should be part of school life, and it also
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