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6. It is essential to the success of the Scheme to get the co-operation of the parents
from the beginning. It is, therefore, suggested that when the five year olds are first inspected
at an Infants' School, the inspecting Dental Surgeon should give a short general nontechnical
talk to the parents assembled for the purpose, and who should be formally invited
by the Education Committee on the notice making the inspection appointment at the School.
Further, it is desired to obtain the Head and Assistant Teachers' whole-hearted cooperation—in
these days parents are so often led by their children; and, the teacher's
influence on children is often far greater than that o>f the home. Further, a complete dental
scheme should include provision for educating children in the need for care of the teeth.
In such work teachers have a definite place in addition to dentists and nurses. At the
initiation of the scheme (in January, 1937), it would be useful to hold a meeting of Head
Teachers to explain procedure and to secure their help.
Emergency Tickets.
Everything possible has been done to keep a check on the abuse of these tickets, especially
in view of the decision of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education that casual work,
which after all is only what these emergency tickets mean, is the very worst propaganda for
any dental clinic." (During 1936, 947 cases were referred by Head Teachers).
X-Rays.
We are still getting this work done at the West London Hospital, but they have notified
us that they will not be able to continue this work indefinitely.
The question of X-ray apparatus must be clearly considered, but in view of the other
services for which an X-ray plant could be utilised to great advantage, it would be manifestly
uneconomic to saddle the Authority with the expense of two individual outfits when one could
be made to serve all the purposes that the Public Health, School Medical and Dental Work may
require.
Empire Dental Conference.
The Senior Dental Surgeon and the Assistant Dental Surgeon were sent as delegates to
the Empire Dental Conference.
Statistics.
The form of the Board's Table IV. showing dental defects has again been amplified (see
below) in order to show items of information which may help towards the proper comparison
of the dental statistics of different Authorities. A better appreciation of their import is conveyed
to the reader if opposite certain figures percentages and notes are given throughout the whole
table, where possible and applicable.