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conditions, this has not been found possible. The opportunity
given when a child or parent attends the Clinic is utilised to carry
out chairside propaganda and to give instruction in the proper
use of a toothbrush. The custom of allowing parents to come
into the surgery when a child is being treated provides an opportunity
for contact between Dental Officer and parent, which is
highly valued by both. This is a practice which works extremely
well in this area.
Orthodontic Scheme.
In December, 1945, a scheme to provide Orthodontic (regulation)
treatment for the children of the Borough received the Committee's
approval. In the past in this Borough all but simple
cases have been referred to the Orthodontic Department of a
Dental Hospital. The cost, which varied according to income,
was borne by the parents. Frequent and prolonged visits to a
Hospital were often beyond the power and the means of the
child's parents. Under the new Education Act, such treatment
may be provided free of charge by the Local Authority. It was
felt that an Orthodontic Service should be available to all the
children of this Borough who required it and it was suggested
that the services of an Orthodontist, should be engaged for two
sessions per week. Under the scheme, the Specialist will be accessible
to all children of the Borough and no child will be denied
treatment through the inability of the parent to escort the child
to and from Hospital. Once the service is established, two
sessions a week will prove inadequate. The Orthodontist will be
required to commence in one of the present surgeries at Chiswick,
but it is hoped that a fourth surgery will become available during
1946,
X-Ray Facilities.
At present, cases requiring X-Ray are referred to the West
Middlesex Hospital and the charge is debited to the Education
Authority. This arrangement is working satisfactorily but when
an Orthodontic scheme is in full operation, it will become necessary
to ask the Committee to consider installing a Dental X-Ray
machine in the Borough or to arrange for free access to a special
centre.
Future Needs of the Service.
In assessing the future needs of a dental service, it has been
usual to base calculations on the assumption that, with an
acceptance rate of 60%, a Dental Officer can provide annual inspection
and treatment for 2,500 children. The acceptance rate in this
area is 83% and for every permanent tooth removed twenty are
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