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122
REPORT OF DENTAL SURGEON.
June, 1935.
To the Medical Officer of Health,
Borough of Barking.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the report of the Dental Services for the year
ended December 31st, 1934.
The number of inspections, fillings, extractions and other operations remains
substantially the same as for the year 1933, but during the latter part of the year
under review a re-arrangement of the sessional programme was introduced to
approximate more closely the figures anticipated by the Board of Education in the
matter of fillings and extractions. This necessitated a narrowing of the field for
orthodontic treatment, regarded as a welcome addition to the dental service but
secondary in importance to general conservation work and oral cleanliness. It is
hoped that in the near future the progressive improvement in the dental condition
of Barking school-children will permit the time to renew orthodontic treatment on
generous lines.
Dental sepsis, so general and widespread in this country is best combated at its
outset, namely, during the period of pre-school and school life. The pre-school
child is the subject of another report to your Council, and it is the purpose of this
report to treat only with the child of school-age.
Dealing, as the service does, with children at the outset of their school life,
they can be brought under observation and attention at an early age. The
opportunity of impressing upon the young child the necessity of mouth hygiene is
fully exploited and, in the numerous inspections carried out over the past five years,
it has been gratifying to note the large number of children who have grown up
dentally conscious and willing to attend the Clinic for treatment at any time in a
spirit of great friendliness. Regrettably, many children are not seen until a firmly
established condition of oral unhealthiness is present. This may be due to parental
unwillingness, fear on the part of the child due to a misformed conception as to
treatment, and new arrivals to the district. With all of these the staff is optimistic,
although such optimism is not always rewarded. These three classes form that
body of individuals known as "refusals" who hinder both actively and passively
the good work of the service, but it is undeniable that they are a weakening body,
every year sending recruits to march under the banner of dental health.