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shortage of dentists leads inevitably to the question of prevention of dental disease.
It is generally accepted that dental decay can be prevented to a considerable extent
by the use of fluorides and dietary control, and periodontal disease by oral hygiene.
As it is unlikely that the sugar intake by children will fall to any significant extent
fluorides provide the only answer.
Apart from water fluoridation several methods are available but they require a degree
of enthusiasm on the part of the parent and/or child and are relatively more expensive and
less effective than water fluoridation.
Considerable evidence is available to show that a fluoride level of I p.p.m. in drinking
water will reduce dental decay by 50% and that its effect persists throughout life.
Furthermore, it is completely safe, and it is the only way prevention can reach those
who are most in need of it.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
Mr.Butler, Chief Public Health Inspector writes:-
The year was characterised by the marked shortage of qualified Public Health
Inspectors.
However, valiant efforts by the remaining staff ensured that adequate attention was
given to the day to day business of the Inspectorate, although this necessitated some cut
back in routine work, for example the inspection of food premises, even on the figures for
I 971 . Most District Public Health Inspectors were, in fact, required to cover at least two
districts during the year.
This capacity for adaptability by the Public Health Inspectorate is a unique asset to
local government, and the advantages are to be seen best during times of staff shortage. The
Public Health Inspectors' wide field of training in all aspects of environmental health
facilitates the ready redeployment of manpower to meet changing and new problems facing the
Section. It is to be hoped that these thoughts will be borne in mind when restructuring of
local authorities is considered in preparation for 1974.
I am unable to detail all of the aspects of work carried out during the year, but the
following notes are indication of matters which have required particular attention:-
Housing
Surveys
Accurate and up-to-date information as to conditions within its boundaries is essential
to a Local Authority. Indeed it might be said that in the absence of such data balanced
judgment as to future schools building, redevelopment, transport, shopping and many other
facilities would be impossible. As was foreshadowed in the report for 1971, during the year
the Public Health Inspectorate were instructed by the Council to undertake surveys of certain
areas of older housing. The areas selected for survey were those not affected by the Council's
current Long Term Capital Programme and in which it was thought poor housing was most
likely to be found.
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