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
Lewisham 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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For the facilities, use of equipment, his co-operation and that of his staff I must
hank Mr. T. H. Liptrot, Director of the School for Dental Auxiliaries.
We were sorry to see the departure of Mr. Sivagurunathan the Senior Dental
Dfficer. He has left to study orthodontics at the Royal Dental Hospital.
Throughout the year there were occasions of staff shortage when, following a
resignation or promotion, surgeries were not fully manned prior to the newlyippointed
officer taking up his duties.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICES
The following summary of the work of the school dental service has been supplied
by the Medical Adviser to the Inner London Education Authority, based on returns
supplied by the dental clinics:
| School Roll | 45,093 |
| Inspection | 84.5 |
| Ordinary treatment | 4,029.5 |
| General anaesthetic | 58.0 |
| Orthodontic | 423.1 |
| Health education | 165.5 |
| Total sessions | 4,760.6 |
| First inspection at school | 11,531 |
| First inspection at clinic | 2,359 |
| Percentage found to require treatment | 70.1 |
| Reinspection at school or clinic in 1970 | 709 |
| Percentage found to require treatment | 88.9 |
| Number of first visits | 6,620 |
| Number of subsequent visits | 23,690 |
| Total visits | 30,310 |
| Emergencies | 1,237 |
| Additional courses commenced | 1,207 |
| 11,410 | |
| Number of fillings: | |
| In permanent teeth | 13,970 |
| In temporary teeth | 9,339 |
| Number of extractions: | |
| Of permanent teeth | 1,006 |
| Of temporary teeth | 2,620 |
| Number of other operations (prophylaxis, X-rays, inlays, | |
| crowns, etc.) | 13,478 |
| Courses of treatment completed | 5,278 |
| Orthodontics: | |
| Number of new cases | 208 |
| Number of removable appliances fitted | 464 |
| Number of fixed appliances fitted | 10 |
| First visits | 1.5 |
| Subsequent visits | 5.3 |
| Emergencies | 0.3 |
| Did not attend | 2.5 |
| Fillings: | 3.1 |
| In permanent teeth | |
| In temporary teeth | 2.1 |
| Extractions: | |
| Of permanent teeth | 0.2 |
| Of temporary teeth | 0.6 |
| Ratio of permanent teeth filled to permanent teeth extracted | 11.8 |
| Ratio of temporary teeth filled to temporary teeth extracted | 3.1 |