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Dental Service
During the year 2,430 sessions were devoted to the treatment of children of school age. Included
in the number of sessions are those specifically arranged for the removal of teeth under general
anaesthetic. Dental officers set aside one session each week to undertake inspection and treatment
of patients under the Priority Service.
Separate arrangements are made for children attending Special Schools such as Park Place,
Henley, St. Michael's, Eastcote, the Junior Training School and the Adult Training Centres.
Inspection of children is usually carried out at school and parents are notified if any dental treatment
is necessary.
The number of children on roll was 33,815; of this number 19,184 were inspected and 8,082
were found to require some form of dental treatment. The acceptance rate for treatment at the
dental surgeries belonging to the Borough was just over 50%. Of the remainder, 40% (especially
the older children) had received treatment under the National Health Service. There were 535
emergency cases; the majority of whom did not accept treatment following routine inspection. The
number of children examined and the number found to be in need of treatment only refers to the
condition at time of inspection. Dental treatment in a School Dental Service should be conservative
in character and the aim of the service is to ensure as far as possible that every child leaves school
dentally fit. The majority of parents readily accept treatment for children of school age, but unfortunately
too many hesitate to seek advice before the child goes to school. Children between
and 3 years of age should be taken to see a Dental Surgeon who can then advise parents on the
proper care of the child's teeth. Premature loss of temporary teeth contributes to malformation of
the jaws and irregularity of the permanent teeth.
Dental Health Education has done much to stress the need for regular visits to the dentist. The
use of posters, leaflets and films does much to make children realise the importance of home care.
Owing to shortage of staff it is not possible to carry out dental health education on a much larger
scale, but there is no doubt the efforts of doctors, dentists, health visitors and others in the field
have produced good results.
It is still very difficult to obtain full time officers and the latest award to dentists in the National
Health and Hospital Services will not help recruitment to the School Dental Service. Young dental
surgeons are very reluctant to enter the School Dental Service as a career. After the National Health
Service came into operation in 1948 the staff position in Area 8 (now the London Borough of
Hillingdon) has not risen beyond half the total dental establishment.
During the year two new dental surgeries came into operation—one at Ickenham and one at
Laurel Lodge, Harlington Road, Hillingdon. Ickenham is also the centre for orthodontic treatment,
which is carried out by two part-time surgeons. Orthodontic treatment is an important and essential
part of the School Dental Service. Treatment may last 18 months to two years before a patient is
finally discharged. This specialised treatment was given to 428 children, and 141 courses were
completed. Some of the completed cases were carried over from the previous year. Fixed and
removable appliances are used, and in conjunction with appliances 509 permanent teeth were
removed for orthodontic purposes by the dental surgeons at the clinics from which the patients were
originally referred.
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