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155
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Donald M. Dodd. L.D.S.. B.D.S. Chief Dental Officer
Staff
After a prolonged staff shortage during the first six months
the establishment of dental officers and dental attendants reached
almost full strength by the end of the year.
Clinics and Equipment
All clinics are inspected regularly and a high standard of
hygiene is maintained. Pour of the oldest dental units will need
phased replacement over the next three or four years.
Dental Inspections (see tables)
Approximately 86 per cent of the school population was
inspected during the year either at schools or clinics and 14 per
cent had more than one inspection in the same period.
Dental Treatment (see tables)
80 per cent of those with defective mouths were offered
treatment, from which satisfactory trends can be seen emerging. The
most important observation is that the accent, wherever possible, has
been directed very markedly towards preservation of teeth, in as much
as eight permanent teeth have been filled for every one extracted.
The remarkably small numbers of dentures needed is a further indication
of successful treatment planning.
Some 30 per cent of those offered treatment required the
correction of teeth irregularities by means of orthodontic appliances,
and this aspect of the service has been very adequately coped with by
the orthodontic clinic and laboratory at Acre Road.
A further encouraging sign here is that certain practitioners
in the General Dental Services have been tending to seek the advice
and treatment of some of their patients by our own orthodontists.