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 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Table: Attendances and treatments

Attendances and treatments

1949195019511952
Number of inspection sessions held at schools946544441584
Number of children inspected at schools by Dentists96,20152,93146,47359,677
Number found to require treatment61,44532,73329,39738,069
Percentage requiring treatment63.9%60.8%63.2%63.8%
Additional number inspected at centres65,38063,58365,50171,452
Total number found to require treatment126,82596,31694,898109,521
Total cases treated102,49582,65082,56493,823
Attendances203,523166,874172,063202,571
Ordinary treatment sessions19,13315,89015,76019,563
General anaesthetic sessions1,6851,5591,5161,494
Temporary teeth extracted109,467101,06693,98196,561
Permanent teeth extracted18,10316,24715,85017,283
Temporary teeth restored by fillings34,50623,96021,68426,353
Permanent teeth restored by fillings67,39553,38854,35666,680
Fillings in temporary teeth36,34125,19124,20627,556
Fillings in permanent teeth73,74058,00060,56872,369
Other operations—temporary teeth38,64933,48939,52345,985
Other operations—permanent teeth32,88825,48528,19930,291
Local anaesthetics for extraction24,32820,55721,30024,667
Local anaesthetics for conservative treatment2,9261,5771,6073,753
General anaesthetics39,45535,10234,09733,448
Cases for whom immediate treatment was completed‡‡8,481*13,135
Cases discharged as dentally fit‡‡40,369*63,638

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‡ Figures not available;
* Figures for May-December only ;

Table: Ratio of permanent teeth restored to permanent teeth extracted

Ratio of permanent teeth restored to permanent teeth extracted

19454.04 to 1
19464.2 to 1
19474.93 to 1
19484.58 to 1
19493.72 to 1
19503.29 to 1
19513.43 to 1
19523.86 to 1

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Residential
establishments

Table: The decline in the dental service in residential establishments appeared to be arrested in1952but the problems in this particular field remain pressing. Every effort was made to obtain dental aid for the children but the rise in the percentage found to require treatment is ominous. The following table indicates the sessional attendance and treatments given, but an unknown volume of treatment was given in addition by local dental practitioners:

The decline in the dental service in residential establishments appeared to be arrested in1952but the problems in this particular field remain pressing. Every effort was made to obtain dental aid for the children but the rise in the percentage found to require treatment is ominous. The following table indicates the sessional attendance and treatments given, but an unknown volume of treatment was given in addition by local dental practitioners:

1949195019511952
Ordinary treatment sessions572524449488
General anaesthetic sessions121072
Number of children inspected5,6485,7834,6353,912
Number found to require treatment2,3332,3552,0451,836
Percentage requiring treatment41.3%40.7%44.1%46.9%
Attendances for treatment4,1793,7913,4273,622
Temporary teeth extracted1,128920950690
Permanent teeth extracted271172173179
Temporary teeth restored by fillings1,058854699703
Permanent teeth restored by fillings1,5551,5471,3651,936
Fillings in temporary teeth1,116976746721
Fillings in permanent teeth1,7151,7081,5152,037
Completed scalings700583346246
Temporary dressings, etc.745511455432
Local anaesthetics for extraction832666580546
Local anaesthetics for conservative treatment7153113103
General anaesthetics163272332145
Cases completed2,3572,3631,9111,909