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174
CLINICS
Plans to rebuild various clinics are under discussion.
Meanwhile, the present clinics are, on the whole, adequately equipped,
but in each year's budget some provision must be made for replacement
of old equipment and an aspirator is an essential item of new
equipment to be purchased.
Thanks are again due to Mr.Hicks and his staff in the Surrey
County Council laboratory, which facilities are available to Kingston.
SCHOOL INSPECTIONS
Because of the importance of school inspections, the dental
officers were urged to plan inspections for their schools to spread
them over the year, and some were able to do this. However, due to
one dental officer's long sick leave, and understaffing later in the
year, as well as considerable time being spent on the dental health
campaign, several schools were not inspected during the year.
The special schools were the responsibility of the chief
dental officer, who undertook inspection at St.Philip's and Bedelsford
Schools, and the Kingston Training Centre.
TREATMENT
Routine treatment continues to be the major part of the dental
officer's work, but also where necessary, emergency treatment is given.
Most important of all, there is a recall system to maintain dental
health for those previously made dentally fit.
ORTHODONTIC SERVICE
This remains in the capable hands of the same two
prthodontists, and an excellent service is maintained.
DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
The importance of dental health education is being
increasingly realised by the profession, and it is considered by many
to be one of the main responsibilities of the school dental service.
Having embarked on a fuller programme of dental health
education during last year, this was further expanded. In mid-1967
early plans were laid for the main campaign in May 1968.
Meanwhile, a return visit of Pierre the Clown to the
borough was financed by the health and welfare department, in order
that he might visit the other half of the schools not included in his
initial campaign in June 1967. This return visit took place in
March, and he was as waraily received by the heads and staffs of the
schools as well, of course, by the pupils, as he had been previously.