View report page

169
REPORT OF SENIOR DENTAL OFFICER.
To the School Medical Officer, May, 1938.
Barking Borough Council.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the School Dental Report for the year 1937.
In the months from January to September inclusive, only two Clinics were
available owing to the fire which completely immobilised the East Street Dental
Clinic.
An endeavour to overcome the handicap was made by introducing three sessions
per diem at the Central and Woodward Clinics, the third session in each case being an
evening one. These evening sessions were sparsely attended during the winter
months as parents were against journeys in the dark, and in the summer months
there was a disinclination to spend time at a Clinic after school hours. Also it was
noticeable that patients, even those who were known to be regular and friendly,
were not so amenable to treatment after spending a day at school studies.
Tiredness, and lack of resistance to discomfort were evident nnd the scheme, an
emergency one, in the matter of returns and popularity was not a success.
During the year under review, the dental treatment of the Day School of the
South-East Essex Technical College was taken over by arrangement with the
Essex County Council and although the dental work of this school is dealt with
elsewhere in this Report (pages 155 to 156 and 195 to 196) it is relevant to state that
the extensive work required to render the pupils of this school dentally fit, much
being of a heavy exacting type, has occupied much of the time previously
devoted to Barking elementary schools.
Extraction of temporary teeth show a welcome decrease, the comparable figures
being 10,702 in 1936, and 8,233 in 1937. The extraction of permanent teeth also
shows a decline, 2,046 being the figure for 1936, and 1,741 for 1937. Fillings are on
the increase, the figure of 6,284 being 1,629 higher than for 1936. The number of
other operations remains approximately the same but casual patients at 906 show a
regrettable increase of 200. The very fine total of 6,284 fillings together with a
reduction in extractions of approximately 2,500 must impress the Committee
of the more enlightened attitude of parents and children in respect of