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School Dental Service.
During 1947 4,349 children were inspected and offered treatment
subject to parental consent. This is an increase of 954
on 1946. Of the 3,247 inspected during routine school inspections,
2.495 or 76% were found to require treatment. The
remaining 1,102 were inspected in the clinics and this figure
reflects the constantly increasing demand for and interest in dental
health rather than an undue number of emergency cases.
The average treatment carried out per session was 6.5 fillings,
1.7 extractions, and 2.7 other operations.
Although the total treatment carried out per Dental Officer
remained high (a total of 9,245 fillings for the whole service) the
time elapsing between routine school inspections is still too long.
If the present essentially conservative form of treatment (ratio
of permanent fillings to permanent extractions 17:1) is to be
maintained, the only way in which this lapse of time can be reduced
is by expansion of the service.
During 1948, it is anticipated that the shortage of storage
space for the models essential to orthodontic diagnosis will be
augmented by the enlargement of the cupboards in the only large
surgery at Chiswick. Application has been made for the replacement
of one operating chair, for the renovation of another and
for the renewal of flooring at Chiswick.
A report on the orthodontic clinics has been prepared by Mr.
C. F. Ballard, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., L.D.S. This special service
is much appreciated and the waiting list should be reduced by an
increase in the number of clinics held.
No time has been available for dental health educational
work.
Maternity and Child Welfare Service.
At this stage it is of interest to review the progress of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Dental Service from its inception.
The earliest available statistical record dates from 1919. Then,
as now, a complete service was obviously available to those expectant
and nursing mothers, and pre-school children referred
from the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics who chose to take
advantage of it. The table shows graphically the continual
process of growth.
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