Trends in the community dental service 1980-1990

The recent past has seen many changes that have had an impact on the dental care of children: for example, demographic changes, changes in the prevalence of dental caries, changes in manpower and changes in the organisation of dental services. The community dental service (CDS) in particular has had a major role to play in the provision of care to many children in this country. An analysis of the statistical returns to the Department of Health for the community dental services in England and Wales for the years 1985-1990 shows that staffing in the CDS has declined from 1,544 (Whole Time Equivalents--WTE) to 1,309 (WTE) in 5 years. The total clinical hours worked has also reduced from 2.02 million to 1.59 million in ten years. Hours spent on administration have increased from 53,490 to 87,091 in the same period. Clinical time spent on treating handicapped adults has increased almost ten fold from 14,644 hours in 1980 to 122,463 hours in 1990. Time devoted to mother and child (pre-school) services in about the same as in 1985. Hours spent on school services have reduced from a peak of almost 2 million in 1985 to 1.38 million in 1989-90. Trends in eight aspects of dental treatment are presented.