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REPORT ON THE WORK OP THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
INCORPORATING THE WORK OP THE MATERNITY AND
CHILD WELFARE DENTAL SERVICE
by
S.Maxwell Young, L.D.S.,R.C.S.
The improvement in the dental staffing position which had been attained in 1956 was,
unfortunately, not kept up during 1957 owing to the departure of some of the part-time
officers, so that the equivalent of 4,9 full-time officers during 1956 was reduced to 4.5
for 1957 (these figures relate to that proportion of dental officer time allotted to the
School Health Service).
Nevertheless, although there has been a falling off in the figures for routine
dental inspections, there has been a healthy increase In the figures for dental treatment
and particularly gratifying are the increases in conservation work and orthodontics, both
of which are the more time consuming procedures in dentistry.
A disturbing feature Is the still large number of extractions, particularly of
deciduous teeth, only four less than last year's total of 4,377. As these are nearly all
cases of tooth-ache brought about by neglect it is a very sad reflection on the state of
oral hygiene among our children.
It has still not been possible to open and staff Maybury Road Clinic, and this
entails much travelling on the part of parents and children from the schools in this
area to the nearest clinic.
Last year a scheme was introduced in June whereby the older children in grammar,
secondary modern and technical schools were offered evening appointments at West Ham Lane
and Rosetta Road clinics. It showed gratifying results and has been continued very
successfully during 1957.
The replacing of obsolescent equipment in the clinics continues as rapidly as
finances permit, but 84 West Ham Lane is still an eyesore and a constant drain for
maintenance.
In the Maternal and Child Health part of our work, the Toddlers' Clinics have
settled down into a happy routine where the youngsters come direct from the Infant Welfare
Clinic to the Dental Clinic for periodic inspections and It is hoped that by early and
regular examination and treatment we will build up a considerable "clientele" of children
and mothers - who are dentally conscious and appreciate the value of a "stitch in time".
The expectant and nursing mothers are still not as regular or assiduous in their
attendance for dental treatment as one would wish. Although the evening sessions specially
allotted to them are reasonably fully booked, there are still very many broken appointments
and far too many mothers-to-be leave their treatment till pregnancy is well advanced.
A comparison of the figures for treatment given to both mothers and toddlers shows
an overall increase in all forms of treatment, and here too a disturbing feature is the
large number of deciduous teeth which have to be extracted, though for the first time there
is a larger number of deciduous teeth filled than extracted.
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