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54
REPORT OF THE DENTAL SURGEON
June, 1936.
To the Medical Officer of Health,
Borough of Barking.
Sir,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Dental Services under
the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme for the year 1935.
There has been a high increase in all branches of the work accomplished for the
year under review and it is particularly gratifying that fillings have increased from
72 to 250. The supply of dentures has risen from 149 to 261 and there has been an
increase from 205 new patients to 477. The number of visits made by old patients
has increased from 1,144 to 1,643. Anaesthetics have increased from 416 to 672
and the number of teeth extracted from 1,465 to 2,783.
The increase in the number of fillings is coincident with the attendance of a
large number of patients who attend under the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme
at a much earlier age than in the past, and these patients are very desirous that
their teeth should be saved. Fortunately the dental condition of these patients
permits conservative work to be carried out.
During the year, the Barking Abbey Secondary School-children received dental
treatment from the Authorities of this Borough for the first time, by arrangement
with the County. This proved to be an exceptionally heavy task for the staff concerned,
presumably because the school have not received a visit from a Dental
Surgeon for some considerable time. Approximately 400 fillings, most of which
were very extensive, were completed and it is worth noting that some patients
required from ten to eighteen fillings before the mouth could be regarded as dentally
satisfactory. It is to be hoped that on the next inspection the dental condition
of the pupils of this school will minimize considerably the number of sessions that
were occupied in their interest during the year under review.
I have to thank all those engaged in the Maternity and Child Welfare Services
for their support and also the Nurses and members of the Dental Staff for the
efforts they have made to maintain the popularity of the Dental Clinics.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W. H. FOY,
L.D.S., R.C.S. (ENG.),
Public Denial Officer.