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124
With the need for more dental health education in mind, Mr.
Hodgson was sent to the Central Council for Health Education
Course held at Bangor in 1963 and he returned with many new ideas
concerning this difficult problem. Greater use of posters, leaflets
and talks in schools can do much to make children and parents more
dentally conscious, and the importance of teeth as regards health.
In this comparatively new branch of the school dental service it may
be many years before we can see the benefits of our efforts.
It is gratifying to learn from the dental figures for the year that
the number of permanent teeth that had to be extracted was lower
than last year, although more children were treated. This was not so
with the deciduous teeth, more having to be extracted. This points,
I feel, to the need for early conservative treatment as soon as a
child commences school, or prior to this whenever possible.
High speed equipment for cavity preparation continued to be
used in all surgeries and almost every child preferred it to the old
slow speed technique. Dental radiographic facilities available at
all clinics helped in the diagnosis of dental abnormalities.
I continued with one evening session per week at Mayesbrook
Clinic for school children who are unable to attend during the day.
Appointments for these sessions are in great demand by the older
children studying for examinations. Many of these children would not
attend during the day sessions and so I feel this is a service of
value.
Emergency treatment and inspection sessions were held at two
clinics in the area per week, namely Mayesbrook Clinic on a
Wednesday and Friday mornings, 9 — 11 a.m., and Valentines Clinic
on Tuesday mornings at 9 — 11 a.m. Any child may attend one of
these sessions for the relief of pain when possible, or for an inspection.
The dental health of the school children in Ilford is slowly
improving. This is due to the fact that more parents are becoming
dental health conscious and so are having their children treated
either under the National Health Service or School Dental Service.
In conclusion, I am certain that the next major advance in
the dental health of children must be in the introduction of fluoridation
of water supplies."