Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Orthodontic Treatment.
In spile of additional sessions being allocated to this highly
specialised branch of treatment, more children continue to be
referred than can possibly be dealt with in the time available. It
is clear that cases of this type constitute a major problem in
school dentistry:
Should the prognosis appear reasonably good, every effort
is made to deal with the deformity, and given early diagnosis
and co-operation from the patient, exceedingly gratifying results
have been obtained. In more difficult cases some amelioration
of the condition is attempted, but here a balance has to be struck
between the time available and the benefits likely to accrue.
Treatment must of necessity be prolonged, as much depends on
the ability to institute remedial measures during the period best
calculated to produce the maximum physiological growth.
As this works expands the Committee will have to consider
at some future date the addition of a Specialist Orthodontic
Surgeon, who, in the first instance, could be employed on a parttime
basis.
Treatment sessions devoted to the work were 215 against 190 last year. The following is a summary of treatment performed:—
1945. | 1944. | |
---|---|---|
Cases under treatment | 254 | 253 |
New Cases | 160 | 85 |
Cases Completed | 58 | 46 |
Attendances | 2,369 | 1,826 |
Appliances—fixed | 4 | 3 |
,, removable | 240 | 149 |
Treatment Sessions | 215 | 190 |
Treatment of Scholarship Children.
Figures for the year show a further increase in the amount
of treatment performed for scholarship holders at Borough
Secondary Schools. Such children attend with the greatest
regularity and are extremely appreciative of services rendered.
It is hoped, however, under the extended dental arrangements
which will be required to implement the dental provisions of the
Education Act, 1944, that inspection and treatment for all
Secondary School children will be available.