View report page

Following the survey, a member of the teaching staff was referred
to the Chest Clinic for further investigation, and it was discovered
that he was suffering from infectious tuberculosis, notification being
made on 12th August, 1965. He was excluded from school, and admitted
to hospital for treatment, his return to teaching being dependent
on satisfactory recovery and freedom from infection.
The Chest Physician recommended a further epidemiological
survey, in consequence, after a period of six months has elapsed from
the last attendance at the school of the teacher concerned.
THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
I am indebted to Mr. M. T. Gibb, the Chief Dental Officer, for
the following report on the operation of the School Dental Service
during the year.
'At 31st December, 1965, the Dental Staff consisted of five
full-time officers, one part-time salaried officer, and ten sessionally
employed officers, equivalent to 2.9 full-time officers.
The employment of 1.4 Dental Auxiliaries forms a useful
addition to the team. There were no variations in the full-time
staff during the year, apart from my own appointment, which
I took up in June, but various changes occurred among the
sessionally employed staff. Orthodontic treatment was carried
out on six sessions a week at the Church Road, Amity Grove
and Grand Drive Clinics, and a smaller amount of Orthodontic
treatment was also carried out by Dental Officers, either on
their own initiative or in consultation with an Orthodontist.
'The dental scheme in the Borough begins, as regards each
child, with its entrance into school life, and provides for an
annual re-examination, together with arrangements for recall
inspections up to the end of school life, with the opportunity
for treatment, if necessary, after each inspection. The recall
system leads to many more teeth being saved and thus there
is a consequent reduction in the number of general anaesthetic
extraction sessions.
'Children of pre-school age and expectant and nursing
mothers are also offered treatment under the Maternity and
Child Welfare scheme.
'The work of our two Dental Auxiliaries is confined to the
four two-surgery clinics in the Borough, as their regulations
lay down that they must work under the direct supervision of
a qualified Dental Surgeon. They are permitted to do simple
fillings, scaling, cleaning and polishing of the teeth, and applying
prophylactic solutions. They are also trained to give instructions
in oral hygiene, and to assist in giving dental health
education talks to parents and children. They are particularly
good with young children, and their work is of a high standard.
'Dental health education will form a more important part
of our work, and talks, illustrated with films and demonstrations,
will be given to Parentcraft Classes, perhaps the most
receptive audience. Head Teachers have also been most cooperative
in promising to arrange for groups of children to be
given instruction in oral hygiene, either by Dental Officers or
by Dental Auxiliaries'.
84