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
Willesden 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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grapple with defective vision. There is no panacea for
the treatment of defective vision, one of the most serious
of all physical defects. Its proper remedy depends,
first upon prevention, and secondly upon a thoroughly
well-organised and complete system of treatment, persistently
and patiently applied.
Amount of Dental Decay .—The following Tables shew the extent to which decay of the teeth among school children has been noted since medical inspection began in Willesden in 1909:—
| No. of Children in which temporary teeth were found defective. | Average No. of temporary teeth defective in these children. | No. of Children in which permanent teeth were found defective. | Average No. of permanent teeth defective in there children. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 5633 | 3.8 | 1741 | 2.4 | ||||
| 1010 | 5594 | 3.7 | 1495 | 2.3 | ||||
| 1911 | 4418 | 3.5 | 968 | 2.3 | ||||
| No. of Children examined. | No. with 1 or more carious teeth. | % with 1 or more carious teeth. | No. with 4 or more carious teeth. | % with 4 or more carious teeth. | ||||
| 1912 | 9867 | 6321 | 64.6 | 2377 | 24.0 | |||
| 1913 | 9343 | 5654 | 60.5 | 2112 | 22.6 | |||
The foregoing Tables reveal a large amount of dental
decay amongst scholars.
Causes of Dental. Decay.—The decay of teeth is due
to many cases, e.g.,
1. Failure to keep the teeth clean.
2. Overlapping, irregularity, or too close an arrangement
of the teeth in the gums, preventing the teeth
being thoroughly cleansed.