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It will be noted there Is a reduction in the number of attendances at
these clinics which may well be due to our increasing co-operation with the
family doctor.
Whereas in past years, treatment, investigations or referral to hospital
were invariably conducted by the clinic doctor and ancillary personnel, there
Is now an increasing tendency to refer the case to the family doctor so that
his wishes in the matter may be consulted. Many general practitioners desire
to treat and investigate their own patients and this is reflected In the fall
In attendances at our clinics.
Of course should the family doctor not express his specific intention
of undertaking the care of the child, the clinic continues with the investigation
or treatment.
Dental Clinics.
Dr. Allan Ross, Principal School Dental Officer, submits the following
report on the work, of the School Dental Service in 1953:-
"I have the honour to present my report on the work carried out in
the dental clinics during 1953.
At the beginning of the year under review the staff consisted of
two full-time dental officers and one oral hygienist. Most energetic
steps were taken to complete the establishment of three, but were unsuccessful
until March when part-time help was obtained from a dental
surgeon who In July became a member of the full-time staff.
The year's working plan was marred by the prolonged sick leave of
one of the dental officers. At a particularly critical time the local
general dental practitioners came to our aid and three of them worked
about six sessions a week. We were extremely fortunate in being able
to replace their services by the employment of a full-time dental officer
on a temporary basis.
In view of the failure In 1952 to fill the establishment, It was
decided In January that the two full-time dental officers should commence
extra evening sessions. These were successful In every way and proved
popular with the patients.
During the year a new clinic was erected and the dental accommodation
thus made available will make It possible to increase the establishment
to four dental officers and one oral hygienist, all with
separate surgeries. Even with four dentists we should still have only
just over half the number which by modern standards is considered
necessary for the priority groups for whom we are responsible.
Orthodontics remains an ever increasing problem. Patients have
great difficulty In obtaining this form of treatment from private practitioners
and may have to wait for three years If they choose to get
treatment from a Teaching Hospital.
As anticipated in my report of 1952, the dental statistics settled
down to something approaching normal during 1953. The routine inspections
at school were increased almost three-fold as compared with the
previous year. The number of permanent teeth filled showed a slight
Increase and the number of deciduous teeth filled decreased. The number
of permanent teeth extracted remains very high and will, I fear, remain
so until the number of dental officers is considerably increased, thus
allowing more conservative treatment to be given.
The year ended on a more cheerful note than for many years. The