London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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248
o'clock Wednesdays, is set apart for treating head teachers'
special cases. There were 199 such sessions and 1,891 cases
attended compared with 163 and 1,773 for 1929.
Full details of sessions and treatment are set out in the Board of Education Table at the end of the Report, while a summary given below is for purpose of comparison with previous years.
| 1926. | 1927. | 1928 | 1929. | 1930. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of new cases per session | 8.3 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 7.9 |
| Attendances per session | 11.9 | 13.3 | 13.8 | 14.0 | 12.6 |
| Fillings | 5.7 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Extractions | 13.5 | 14.2 | 13.1 | 14.9 | 13.7 |
| Other operations | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Gas cases during the year | 1495 | 1894 | 1638 | 1791 | 2395 |
| 1927. | 1928. | 1929. | 1930. | ||
| Permanent teeth extracted | 1039 | 1020 | 1279 | 2001 | |
| Permanent teeth filled | 1653 | 2406 | 1926 | 2760 | |
| Ratio of fillings to extractions | 1:0.6 | 1:0.4 | 1:0.6 | 1:0.7 | |
| Temporary teeth extracted | 8013 | 8101 | 9081 | 12105 | |
| Temporary teeth filled | 1702 | 1829 | 1326 | 1732 | |
| Ratio of fillings to extractions | 1:4.7 | 1 :4.4 | 1:6.8 | 1:6.9 |
As noted last year, too much time is devoted to the extraction
of teeth rather than to filling, i.e., saving teeth. During the past
year this has been due to the inclusion of a large number of
children from central schools who have not had the opportunity
of treatment for a period of years, and who in consequence have
required a large number of permanent extractions. The extension
of the scheme will without doubt result in an improvement in the
ratios shown above.
Special Treatments.
Partial dentures to replace lost incisors, 4.
Orthodontia.
Regulation or straightening of teeth which have become displaced
through nasal obstruction, or maldevelopment of the jaws,
is an important branch of dental treatment. Regulation is necessary
not merely to improve the appearance but to render teeth
functional. During the past year a number of cases have been
treated by extraction, and 14 cases have been treated by means of
simple regulation apparatus. Cases requiring long and costly
treatment have been advised to obtain private advice, and where
parents could not afford such advice they have been referred to
London Dental Hospitals.