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86
REPORT OF THE DENTAL SURGEON.
July, 1933.
The Medical Officer of Health,
Barking.
Sir,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Dental Service of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme for the year ended 31st December, 1932.
Reference to the figures will show that 149 dentures were supplied to patients
as against 80 for the preceding year and that the total number of visits made by
adult patients was 850 as against 691 for the preceding year. These figures are
convincing enough to show an appreciation of the scheme by those able to benefit
by it.
The under-age patient is seen any time. This arrangement is both fortunate
and necessary, fortunate inasmuch as the tiny ones are able to obtain immediate
relief from pain, and necessary because so many are brought along with a dental
condition that has long passed the possibility of conservative treatment. New
arrivals into the Barking area over the recent two or three years do not seem aware
that any child of pre-school age can receive attention. Whether this lack of treatment
is usual elsewhere or whether the parents maintain that traditional lack of
interest in the deciduous teeth so detrimental to an adequate service and so unfortunate
for the child it is not possible to say, but the regrettable fact remains that an
appalling number of extractions are undertaken because the first visit of the average
under-age child is made much too late and only when the patient is suffering.
It is distressing that children of the tender age of 3 and 4 are constantly to suffer
pain and loss of teeth because of the apathy of parents, but it is anticipated that the
work of the coming year will be of greater conservative value to the toddlers than
the year under review.
I have the honour to be Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W. H. FOY,
Public Dental Officer.