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68
taken valuable dental health instruction in the clinic and
schools. This is a very difficult part of the service because
nearly all children know what they should do concerning dental
care due to the mass advertising, but our difficulty la to
persuade them to carry it out. Miss Burns has worked in conjunction
with Miss Griffiths, Health Education Officer. She
has concentrated on Infant and Junior Schools whilst Miss
Griffiths has brought Dental Health as part of general Health
Education Programme in senior schools. It is generally thought
that dental health must start at a very early age and, therefore,
the infant school age group is important.
We were fortunate to obtain the services of a full-time
Dental Officer, Mr. Garman, who commenced duties in
December. I am sure he will be a great asset to the service.
Mr. Garman is working 6 sessions at Manford Way Clinic and
4 sessions at Mayesbrook. I am pleased that at last It it
possible to dentally cover the Manford Way area and to offer a
more efficient service there.
Premises
Eight dental surgeries remained open for dental treatment
although some had to be staffed part-time due to the shortage
of staff. Due to losing two part-time Dental Officers and rearrangement
at Valentines Dental Clinic, the previous difficulty
of having two double surgeries near to each other has partly
been overcome. There now is the equivalent of one full-time
Officer at Valentines and one full-time Officer, plus the
auxiliary at Kenwood. This is adequate for this area.
Owing to the closing of 93 High Road, Woodford, alternative
accommodation had to be found until the new clinic is built.
The surgery was moved to 118 Hermon Hill at the end of 1966
and sessions recommenced in 1967. Adapted premises are not
ideal and I hope it will not be too long before the new clinic is
built.
Improvements to the other surgeries and waiting rooms
continued on a progressive plan. This must be a yearly aim if
the standard of buildings and equipment which is required is
to be maintained.
Conservative treatment to save teeth continued to be the
main aim of the service. More children are receiving treatment
at a much earlier age than years ago.
General anaesthetics were administered by Medical Officers
and later in the year also by a Consultant Anaesthetist. The
same Anaesthetist attends and works with the same dental