London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
This page requires JavaScript
264
accordance with instructions received. (Minutes of the
Education Committee, 3rd December, 1913, page 393.)
This previous report was associated with certain proposals
in respect to the treatment of eyes. The present
report in respect of the treatment of teeth practically reproduces
the previous report, except that provision for the
treatment of teeth is considered separately.
Amount of Dental Decay .—The following Tables show the extent to which decay of 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 uefective in these children. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 5633 | 3.8 | 1741 | 2.4 |
| 1010 | 5594 | 3.7 | 1495 | 2.3 |
| 1911 | 4418 | 3.5 | 968 | 2.3 |
Amount of Dental Decay .—The following Tables show the extent to which decay of teeth among school children has been noted since medical inspection began in Willesden in 1909.
| 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 causes, e.g.—
1. Failure to keep the teeth clean.
2. Over-lapping, irregularity, or too close an
ment of the teeth in the gums, preventing the teeth
being thoroughly cleansed.