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SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE - INNER LONDON EDUCATION AUTHORITY
School Entrants (5 yr. olds)
The situation is not as good as last year in that 36% needed treatment as against 20% last
year.
Infants and Juniors
There is quite an improvement in this age group only 41% requiring treatment as against 60%
last year.
Prevention
It will be appreciated that the dental picture presented above does not necessarily reflect
the pattern of dental disease among children in Inner London as a whole, because the numbers
are small, for obvious reasons. On the other hand, one would certainly hope that the state of the
mouths of some of the school children resident in the City (as distinct from school children
living outside it) would not be reflected in the overall pattern, because, as had been said repeatedly
in these reports, some of the worst mouths seen are those of City children.
The only real hope that one can have for any improvement in this situation would seem to be
by means of water fluoridation.
As reported last year, in an attempt to obtain at least some measure of benefit from fluorides,
the teeth of those school children at Sir John Cass's Foundation School whose parents accepted
it, were painted with fluoride gel. At the same time instruction in oral hygiene was given by
Dental Health Educators of the Inner London Education Authority. A very satisfactory total of
89% of the children received this preventive treatment and one hopes that as time goes on, the
percentage will go even higher. It is, however, rather too early yet to measure the effect of this
exercise in topical fluoridation.
Group instruction in oral hygiene to groups of children in the classroom to reach those not
covered in other ways is also desirable. This aims by talks, puppet shows, teaching projects,
audio-visual methods, etc. to show the basis of oral hygiene instruction, namely, how to remove
the film, now known as plaque, which attaches itself to teeth, and which, it is believed, causes
decay and gum disease.
Orthodontics
An increase in this form of treatment, which aims to correct irregularities of teeth, was
noticed this year.
National Health Service
This covers the field of adult dental treatment. The number of staff treated was about the
same as the previous year and could be said to indicate that the introduction of increased patient
contributions has not really reduced the demand for treatment.
In fact, it would not be easy to deal with any great increase in numbers; the limit of capacity
having been reached, and indeed it is a matter for great regret that it is not possible to offer a
recall service, i.e. 6 monthly check-up.
St. Bartholomew's Hospital
The numbers referred to hospital for purposes of general anaesthesia, oral surgery and
orthodontia have increased slightly,and as always, both patients referred, and the dental staff
here, have the greatest admiration and gratitude for the skilful treatment, general co-operation
and unfailing courtesy, invariably received from the hospital staff."
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
Area- 678 acres (including the Temple and foreshore)
Population - Census 1961, 4,711; Estimated mid-year 1972, 4,080
Annual Rateable Value - as at 1st April, 1971, £49,652,608
Annual sum Received from Penny General Rate - £499,000
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