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*These referrals were most frequently to an E.N.T. consultant but others were
referred for Child Guidance, Educational, Paediatric investigations or speech
therapy.
School Dental
Service
Mr. G.P.L. Taylor, the Principal Dental Officer, writes:-
As will be seen in the statistical table on page 97, 2,000 more visits to the dental
clinics were made by children in 1969 than in 1968, and 1,000 more were inspected at school
than in 1968. Even so, owing to lack of staff, we were not able to inspect quite half of the
school population.
I am glad to say that the proportion of both deciduous and permanent teeth filled to each
one extracted is well above the national average. Also, the numbers of emergency visits and
visits for extractions under general anaesthesia are below the national average.
The employment of more full time dental officers who could carry out more inspections
at school would prevent a great number of emergency treatments. At the present time, as in the
past, recruitment of full time officers is extremely difficult. The help we receive from part time
sessional officers is of great value. The work of the dental auxiliaries, too, has been excellent
and of a high standard.
The creation of a Senior Dental Officer post would, I am sure, help to recruit staff and
lead to greater efficiency.
Improvement in premises and equipment would also help in recruitment, I feel. I am glad
to report that we have been able to provide some modern equipment at Hurst Road. It was a
great disappointment not to have a dental suite at St. James Health Centre since patients in
that area do experience some difficulty in coming to Hurst Road.
Much dental decay could be prevented by a stricter control of children's intake of sugar.
While many parents seem to recognise this, they do little to try any sort of control. At present
a great deal of research is being done on the subject of the harmful effects of sugar and other
sweeteners.
As to the future of the dental health of the children of Waltham Forest, I feel the main
hope of any great improvement can only come when fluoridation of the water supply is
permitted.
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