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in the area for his talks on road safety, spent a week in the
Borough during February when he visited 20 Primary Schools
giving talks to over 8500 school children on oral hygiene and the
benefits of finishing a meal with an apple. His visit was part ofa
pilot scheme sponsored by the Apple Producers Council who
provided free apples for distributions to the the children.
This was something new so far as dental health education
is concerned and all the children seemed to enjoy it.
F luoridation
It is a matter of considerable regret to many who are interested
in the dental well-being of the community, that the Borough
Council was not able during the year, to give a definite decision
in favour of the fluoridation of the water supply.
There is no doubt that adjustments of the fluoride content
of the public water supplies to 1 part per million is a most effective
means of reducing dental decay. Caries experience is
reduced by at least 50% in both deciduous and permanent dentitions
following fluoridation of water supplies. The procedure has been
shown to be perfectly safe and practical at the concentrations
shown to be effective and the Minister of Health has given it his
wholehearted support.
Staff- Post Graduate Refresher Courses
Three members of the staff attended refresher courses
organised by the British Postgraduate Medical Federation during
the year. These took the form of halfday sessions spread over
six weeks. Two courses were in Orthodontics and the third in
Periodontology.
Clinic Premises
In the Ministry's report on the Borough's dental services
comment was made regarding clinic premises and in particular
Elm Park, Hornchurch and Rainham Clinics came in for adverse
criticism.
Plans for alterations and extensions to Elm Park and
Hornchurch Clinics are expected to be put into operation in the
near future and proposals to replace Rainham Clinic are included
in the 10 year development plan.
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