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(12) Accommodation.
This is, on the whole, satisfactory and meets the requirements
laid down.
(13) Education of children in the care of the teeth.
This is given at the chair side when time permits and many
teachers give very helpful advice at appropriate times in school.
(14) One dental officer 'should be appointed to act, under the
School Medical Officer, as supervisor and administrator of the dental
service.' This condition is fulfilled and it is found that these
administrative duties need not interfere greatly with this officer's
share of the operative work.
(15) Co-ordination with other dental schemes.
(i) The school dental service deals with the treatment of
mothers and children under the Maternity and Child Welfare scheme,
and this continues to occupy a considerable amount of time. During
1937, 85 sessions were devoted to this work.
(ii) It co-operates with the ear, nose and throat clinic.
Patients referred by this clinic are all treated by one dental surgeon,
and arrangements are made for necessary dental treatment to be
completed before operation for tonsillectomy.
(iii) Children at the Open Air School are examined each term
and I feel that a little more firmness in dealing with parents' refusal
of treatment for these cases would be a decided economy and of
benefit to the children.
In conclusion. I should like to summarise those points in
which we still fall short of the Board's recommendations:—
Firstly, large numbers of children still leave school having
lost many permanent teeth.
Secondly, it does not yet appear possible for all children
to be inspected and treated annually.
Thirdly, too long a period elapses between inspection and
treatment.
Fourthly, it follows that many teeth which it should be
possible to preserve have to be extracted.
These, as I see it, are the greatest defects in our present
arrangements, and in seeking to remedy them two factors seem to
be worthy of consideration. Firstly, 143 sessions are occupied by
the administration of anaesthetics, during which, of course, no
operative work can be done.