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16
The number of routine inspections has increased somewhat to
3,476 and the special inspections from 6,578 to 7,438. This means
that 10,914 of the children in Walthamstow schools have been
dentally inspected during the year.
It is recognised that ideally, all children should be inspected
annually at routine inspections, and in 1954 the whole dental staff
has been instructed to inspect all 5 and 6-year-old children early in
the year, followed by a further inspection of these children, together
with all new entrants, within at least twelve months. It is hoped
thus to gradually obtain the ideal of an annual dental inspection of
all school children.
During the year 1,755 permanent and 6,760 temporary teeth
were extracted, as against 1,626 and 5,543 respectively. It is worthy
of note that these teeth were not all extracted because of sepsis or
pain, 246 permanent and 701 temporary were removed for the
correction of irregularities.
The number of general anaesthetics has again increased slightly.
The number of children treated during the year has increased
to 6,773 from 6,153, whilst the attendances for all dental reasons
have increased to 18,218 from 14,645.
The number of sessions worked has increased from 2,251 to
2,614.
It is with pleasure that I am able to record these all-round
increases.
Dental Hygiene.—Miss Watts has continued to give very satisfactory
service, especially in her individual and group tuition.
Fortunately, the incidence of really "dirty" mouths continues to
be very low and she has been able to give an increasing portion of
her time to dental health education.
I still feel very strongly that much of the dental surgeons time
might be saved if she were allowed to apply "medicaments" such
as silver nitrate to carious temporary teeth.
SPECIALIST CLINICS
(Note.—All Specialist Clinics are staffed by the Regional Hospital Board.
Day to day administration has continued unaltered).
In February it was reported to the Committee that apparently
it was the intention of the Regional Hospital Board to transfer some
or all of the specialist clinics to the out-patient departments of
hospitals as soon as practicable. The Committee decided to make
strong representations to the Local Education Authority to inform