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77
During the year under review, parents appear to have had some difficulty in
obtaining treatment outside the local authority service for children under
seven years of age. This resulted in a larger percentage of children in
the lower age groups receiving treatment at. the dental clinics, thus
accounting for the increased number of fillings in temporary teeth.
(4) With regard to general anaesthetics, this Authority was fortunate in
having the services of specialist anaesthetists for their weekly sessions
and this enabled over 30 'gas administrations' to be given in one session,
if necessary,
(5) The problem of orthodontic treatment remained a difficult one. Prior
to 1951, virtually all cases were referred to the London Teaching Hospitals.
Of these, only a small percentage persisted with the treatment given due
in some cases to indifference and in others, to travelling difficulties.
The solution obviously lies in providing a comprehensive orthodontic service
in the dental clinic where the child can, for instance, keep an appointment
on the way home from school for adjustments to appliances etc. This
would minimise the loss of school time and considerably improve the prospects
of successful completion. The Teaching Hospitals are now used (with
very few exceptions) only for an opinion In a particularly difficult case
and it is a pleasure to record that their attitude has been most co-operative.
There is at present no entry relating to orthodontic treatment in the
official return, an omission which is discouraging to those in the local
authority's services who spend considerable time, effort and patience in
this specialised branch of dentistry,
(6) The absence of an X-ray unit during 1951 made diagnosis and treatment
sometimes extremely difficult and it was unfortunate that the local hospital
felt unable to co-operate in this matter. It has been agreed to instal
an X-ray unit at one of the clinics during 1952.
(7) In October 1951 consequent upon the revised organisation, there was a
change of policy regarding the treatment of emergency cases, From then
onwards all such cases were seen the same day. Relief from pain coupled
with elimation of sepsis remain the guiding principles and whilst the
provision of emergency treatment can cause inconvenience to the Dental
Officer and also to other patients, any difficulties, can be minimised by
tact and co-operation. It is to be borne 'in mind that in this locality
the mother has almost invariably taken time off from work in order to
obtain relief from pain for her child and sometimes their arrival at the
Clinic has been preceded by unfruitful calls at private practitioners with
consequent loss or morale and an increased sense of frustration. This part
of the service given at the clinics remains of prime importance and the
extent of emergency treatment will only be reduced when the staffing position
is improved considerably thereby ensuring that the maximum amount of
routine treatment is performed.
Immunisation Clinics.
Owing to decreasing attendances at these clinics it was found desirable
to merge the previously separate sessions and hold a combined clinic for
both school and pre-school children. These sessions for children of all
ages are held weekly both at the Town Hall Annexe and at Church Road Clinic,