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126
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Donald M. Dodd, L.D.S., B.D.S., D.D.P.H..R.C.S., Chief Dental Officer
Staffing
The establishment of dental officers remained at almost
full strength throughout the year. A vacancy caused by the resignation
of one part-time officer at the end of December was filled immediately
by a new appointment.
Clinics
All the clinics were inspected frequently in order to ensure
that the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene were being
maintained.
Dental Inspection (see tables)
Every school in the borough was visited at least once during
the twelve months. On these occasions, 18,646 children received their
first dental inspection of the year and 112 subjects were inspected
during each session. This, in effect, covered 93 per cent of the
school population, which compared more than favourably with the national
average of 58 per cent. An additional 2,321 also underwent their first
inspection at a clinic. Of the total inspected, 14.2 per cent were
re-inspected, an indication that opportunities for regular treatment
were being offered to the children more than once per year.
Dental Treatment (see tables)
As a result of the above first inspections, 7,180 children
(34.4%) were found to require treatment. Some of these did not require
immediate attention and others were patients of private practitioners,
with the result that 6,109 were offered treatment. Of the former
number, 3,519 (49%) were treated by the school dental service.
Caries is the major dental health problem experienced by
children in this country. It is therefore encouraging to note that
9.2 permanent teeth had been preserved by means of fillings, for every
one that was beyond repair and had to be extracted. Likewise, in
the deciduous dentition, three teeth were able to be saved, for
every one that was lost through caries.
After having allowed for absentees through sickness and
failed appointments, 6.1 patients visited the surgery during each
treatment session, which was approximately the same attendance figure
as that exhibited by the country as a whole.