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Report of the Chief Dental Officer
for the year 1967
Further thought has been given to the dental needs
of special classes of patients such as the physically
and mentally handicapped. Some elderly persons
may also be in need of specialized dental care.
The primary function of the local authority dental
service must be the care of school children, and
until the serious lack of staff is overcome there is
little prospect of expansion into other fields,
however desirable this undoubtedly may be.
An increasing number of immigrant children
received treatment at the dental clinics. Concern
has been expressed that certain of these children
may suffer from sickle cell anaemia. This may
constitute a hazard during general anaesthesia
and is being further investigated.
The tooth paste trial previously described
continued during 1967. It is pleasing to record
that the very high degree of co-operation from the
children and their families participating in the trial
continued as before.
Comparatively few expectant and nursing
mothers sought dental treatment at the clinics.
Efforts continued to stimulate a demand for dental
care from more pre-school children.
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