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
London County Council 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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28
Teeth.
The Wick
special
centre.
experience it can be said that, in the vast majority of cases, it is possible to adopt one type of
conservative operation in conservative cases, and one type of radical operation in radical cases.
It will be seen by studying the above table that there is 6 weeks saving in time of healing
by the cortical operation with muscle graft, as compared with the next best result in the conservative
group; while in the radical group there is 4 weeks saving in time of healing by the
radical operation with muscle graft as compared with the next best result.
This is an indication that the two muscle graft operations might be done in preference to
other types of operation in all cases except those which appeared to require particularly another
type. A further advantage of the muscle graft operations is that the after treatment is not painful
and does not distress the children at all. It is mainly just keeping the ear clean (the discharge,
as a rule, not being profuse), and ionisation. The great point of importance is to know when to
perform the conservative muscle graft operation and when the radical. Sometimes this is very
easy to decide, at others it is most difficult.
During 1931, out of 67 conservative muscle graft operations, 55 were successful, while 12
had to undergo a second operation because the conservative operation was not sufficient.
With careful examination of the ear both before operation as well as on the operating table,
and with greater experience, the number of unsuccessful cases should be reduced in number.
These statistics, however, go to prove a case for the muscle graft operation, while providing
a warning to use the utmost care in making a decision between the conservative and radical
types.
Occasion is here taken to express acknowledgment of the debt due to Dr. Price,
the medical superintendent, for his assistance and co-operation in the scheme by
which children found at the school treatment centres to require mastoid and other
operations are admitted to the Downs hospital.
The following table shows the steady improvement in the general condition of the mouths of the children in the schools, and represents the result of the work undertaken at the treatment centres and of the endless propaganda in the schools, both with the children and the parents.
| Year. | Percentage requiring treatment. | Year. | Percentage requiring treatment. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | 81.8 | 1924 | 69.6 |
| 1916 | 81.5 | 1925 | 69.8 |
| 1917 | 79.4 | 1926 | 69.0 |
| 1918 | 78.1 | 1927 | 70.0 |
| 1919 | 77.0 | 1928 | 68.9 |
| 1920 | 75.0 | 1929 | 67.9 |
| 1921 | 74.5 | 1930 | 65.9 |
| 1922 | 72.5 | 1931 | 64.5 |
| 1923 | 70.3 |
During the year 1931 the total number of children treated under the Council's
scheme was 139,723, compared with 138,280 during the preceding year, an increase
of 1,443.
The aim of a school dental service is primarily one of prevention and conservation,
and from table IV at the end of the report it will be observed that 132,237
fillings in temporary and permanent teeth were undertaken during the year. This
is an increase of over 10,000 compared with the year 1930, whilst the number of
extractions was reduced from 410,419 to 393,579.
The special dental centre at the Wick, Hackney, which was organised and financed
by the Manor Charitable Trust, has continued its intensive work during the year in
connection with the Berkshire-road and Gainsborough-road schools. The dental
oversight of the children attending these schools was transferred to the Trust, and