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3
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Introduction
Accounts of dentistry for the mentally handicapped, pre-school children,
and expectant and nursing mothers will be found elsewhere in the report.
Four of our Dental Surgery Assistants are seconded to Executive Council
Surgeries. One of the two Senior D. S. As is responsible for training new
D. S. As and the other acts as a tutor to girls studying for their National
D. S. A. Certificate. Three D.S.As are at present studying for their National
Certificate and three were successful in the May examination. In addition to
attending evening classes, they are given weekly tutorials prior to the
examination.
The statistics shown for 1973 are only for 11 months and so should not
be fully compared to the 12 months totals for 1972. Nevertheless they are
very encouraging.
Reorganisation of the National Health Service
All our activities have been overshadowed by the N.H. S. reorganisation.
In view of the grave anxieties to which staff have been subjected, they are
all to be thanked and congratulated on keeping up, and indeed improving, their
care for patients.
School Dental Inspections
Children at all schools were inspected by the end of the year. 20
primary school head teachers have invited us to inspect their children on a
twice yearly basis. This is a very encouraging sign of the teachers' concern
for the dental health of children in their charge.
Mentally Handicapped Children
We carried out much prevention at Marsh House School for children with
dual mental and physical incapacities. In addition we are just putting a
dental chair into Ickburgh School to allow us to restart the rest of our preventive
programme. This was felt hy the Dental and Educational staff to be a
very worthwhile aspect of our work.
Dental Health Education
We are eternally grateful to our Dental Auxiliaries for all the time
they have spent on this aspect of our work. Together with several dentists
and our general health educator they have done much in this field. The latter
person has been a welcome additional colleague. Children again queued to have
their teeth polished in the mobile clinic at the Hackney Show.
Post Graduate Studies
Staff have continued to attend post graduate courses, lectures and conferences,
including the annual conference of the British Dental Association.
One senior dental officer is attending the London University Post Graduate