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DENTAL TREATMENT.
The following report was submitted to me by the Municipal
Dental Officer. This speaks for itself, and I hope to make a longer
comment next year on the work, which has been most successful in
the Borough, mainly due to the enthusiasm of Mr. Grantley Smith,
ably assisted by his staff.
"I have the honour to submit the first Annual Report of the
work carried out at the Dental Treatment Centre during 1921. This
centre was open for treatment on April 11th, 1921. Prior to this
date dental treatment was carried out at the Oxley Street Centre,
the premises and equipment there being entirely unsuitable for any
form of comprehensive work. On this date Mr. G. W. Clark, the
dental mechanic, and Miss Helden, the dental nurse, commenced
duty.
Since there was only one qualified dental surgeon in private
practice at one end of the Borough of Bermondsey, my instructions
were to offer treatment to those who worked or resided in it. Included
in these instructions are cases referred from the Municipal
and Voluntary Maternity and Child Welfare Centres —the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, the Bermondsey Medical Mission, and private
medical practitioners.
The patients treated in the Centre may be classified as follows: —
(1) Children of pre-school age.
(2) Children of school age, in need of urgent treatment,
and referred by centres or other agencies.
(3) Expectant and nursing mothers.
(4) Women other than expectant and nursing mothers.
(5) Men.
(6) Tuberculosis cases.
Again, the patients may be classified as: —
(1) Those referred by centres.
(2) Those who desire treatment on the advice and recommendation
of past patients. This class predominates.