London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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1938 for every 100 teeth filled 145 were extracted
1958 „ „ 100 „ „ 95 „ „
1964 „ „ 100 „ „ 53 „ „
1965 „ „ 100 „ „ 47 „ „
In 1938, 16,679 school children were inspected, of whom
12,634 were found to require treatment - 75.7%. In 1965, 36,851
were inspected and 14,362 were found to require treatment - 38%.
Dental caries decreased during and just after the war, but
the subsequent increase presents a serious public health problem.
The following table shows the number of children with naturally perfect teeth amongst (l) five year olds, and (2) twelve year olds. Naturally perfect teeth are those with no fillings, no decay and where no teeth have been extracted.
| 5 year olds | 12 year olds | |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 21.7% | 19.2% |
| 1953 | 14.8% | 12.0% |
| 1958 | 12.8% | 5.0% |
| 1963 | 17.4% | 3.8% |
It can be seen from this that while pre-school children's
teeth are now improving, those of school children show a continuing
decline. Knowledge of the chemical and bacterial
mechanism of dental decay indicates most strongly that the sale
of biscuits, sweets and cakes in school tuck-shops can do
nothing but aggravate this trend.
With the extension of the Borough through the Greater London
reorganisation, the clinics of the old County Borough have been
supplemented by two inherited from Surrey County Council. One of
these is the new building at Rectory Park, Sanderstead, where
there is one dental surgery with associated rooms. The other is
at 62, Whytecliffe Road, Purley, which has two surgeries. The
existing premises consist of the main dental centre at Lodge Road
which has, at present, five surgeries. This building is in need
of modernising and reorganising, and it is hoped to proceed with
this soon. The dental centre at Shirley Road which was opened in
1955, provides two main surgeries and an auxiliary surgery.
The dental clinic at 206, Selhurst Road is in a converted
private house. It is hoped to replace this by more modern
buildings which will serve the Upper Norwood and Thornton Heath
areas and reduce the travelling at present necessary for children
attending schools in those areas. The clinic at Parkway, New
Addington was opened in March of this year, and provides two
surgeries in a modern building. It is anticipated that the
demand for treatment at this centre will increase as the development
of the adjacent housing estate continues. The clinic at
Coldharbour Road, Waddon, opened in 1963, provides a fully