[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Southport County Borough.

  • Southport (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Southport County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    98/112 (page 96)
    PRINCIPAL SCHOOL DENTAL OFFICER’S REPORT, 1960 The authorised professional establishment of one principal school dental officer and j two school dental officers has been maintained throughout the year, although unfor- - tunately, through sickness, one of the dental officers was absent from duty for some 12 : weeks. The department has thus suffered the loss, when compared with past years, of approximately 120 half-day sessions which would normally have been devoted to in- ^ dividual treatment and to the dental inspections in the schools. Nevertheless, it has been : possible during the year to inspect the pupils in all but two of the schools, and these will be visited in January, 1961. The period therefore, between inspection and re-inspection and treatment and ; re-treatment of all the schools has extended from approximately 48 weeks to 54 weeks. It has been possible for the dental officers of the department to familiarize themselves,, over a prolonged period, with the technique applicable to the 'air turbine high speed drill’. For a specific purpose this apparatus is now generally accepted by the dental profession, ^ indeed it is another step forward to better and less painful dentistry; it is an addition to ■ existing equipment but displaces none. A plan designed for the piping of compressed air ! to each of the three surgeries will allow for the use of a portable drill, and it is hoped that ] the installation will be completed and in full use sometime during 1961. During the year, Mr. Pogrel, the consultant orthodontist, together with the depart¬ ment’s dental officers, have completed the treatment of 62 cases of irregularity of the ; teeth by appliances and 55 new cases have been accepted. Of the 794 teeth extracted from the permanent dentition, 470 were extracted for orthodontic purposes. The department is greatly indebted to Miss Elce for her kindly services. Miss Elce is a W.V.S. officer and since 1956 has escorted many very small children of parents unable to attend. She has made possible full conservative dental treatment, which would have otherwise been denied to these children. vO