View report page

Orthodontics
The treatment of mouths deformed by badly positioned teeth is important dental work
of a rather dramatic character which is sometimes more readily appreciated and understood
than is the prevention of such conditions. The main difficulty in 1954, as in former
years, was to strike a balance between the two lines of treatment. Every effort continued
to be made to provide as much orthodontic treatment as possible but the correction of
malocclusions requires considerable skill and the treatment is frequently very extended
and time-consuming. Staff were encouraged to undertake in their own surgeries as
many cases as time and pressure of routine work would permit and removable appliances
of a high standard continued to be provided for them by specially trained technicians
at the Council's central dental laboratory. By these means a considerable advance in
numbers treated within the Council's service was achieved. It was not possible to
increase the three sessions per week devoted exclusively to orthodontic treatment at
Hammersmith treatment centre, where a full-time officer has displayed particular
aptitude for this work. All dental teaching and general hospitals known to undertake
orthodontic treatment were again invited to give their assistance. Use continued to be
made of such hospitals who undertook to accept an agreed number of orthodontic
patients per annum. The numbers for whom particulars were sent to divisional offices
for reference to hospitals were controlled in order to conform to the acceptance number
agreed with each hospital or orthodontist. Unfortunately, not many cases could be
accepted.

In view of the difficulties of recruiting dental officers, some satisfaction may be
registered with the growth of this section of the service during the year and I would
record my appreciation of the dental officers and technicians who assisted.
Maternity and child welfare dental service
The demands on this service continued during the year to be less than expected. Sessions
devoted to the work were about 10 per cent. of the total effort but with the help of a
number of evening sessions it was possible to deal with all applications for treatment.
Not all mothers and children were inspected, however, nor were reluctant patients
followed up or firmly persuaded to accept treatment. Much remains to be done, when
staffing permits, before an efficient and comprehensive dental health service for preschool
children and their mothers, as visualised in the National Health Service Act,
1946, is in being.