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18
The programme of modernisation and facilities in the various surgeries,
however, continues and orders for the replacement of the more obsolete
equipment were placed. It was decided to meet the need for additional
surgery facilities, especially in the north ofthe Borough,by the introduction
of an adapted caravan as a mobile surgery.
The School Dental Service
The shortage of dental staff resulted in a reduction of 120 in the total
number of sessions worked this year. In order to treat as many children as
possible, the reduction in treatment sessions was less than the reduction in
sessions devoted to routine examinations at schools and in those devoted to
Dental Health Education.
In spite ofthe reduced number of sessions the number of children receiving
at least one course of treatment during the year rose by 372 and
represents 18.8% of the total school population as opposed to 18.4% in 1971.
In addition the total number of teeth filled rose slightly due to a big increase
in the number of permanent teeth filled - although the number of deciduous
teeth conserved was less. However, the more advanced procedures showed a
reduction. The number of crowns fitted was only slightly down on 1971 but
the number of teeth root filled showed a reduction of nearly one-third. It is
inevitable that when there is a shortage of staff the service must devote more
of its time and resources to more routine treatment at the expense of the time
consuming advanced techniques.
The need for teeth to be extracted increased markedly during the year and
the demand on the general anaesthetic sessions was very heavy, though it
eased somewhat during December. As a consequence, the ratio of teeth extracted
for every 100 filled, which has been falling since 1951, showed an increase
this year as the following shows:
In 1951 111.2 teeth were extracted for every 100 filled
In 1961 65.5 " " " " "
In 1966 34.5 " " " " "
In 1970 23.0 " " " " "
In 1971 21.6 " " " " "
In 1972 27.4 " " " " "
Altogether 6,789 teeth were extracted, but this includes many that were
extracted to help straighten remaining teeth and also 318 teeth that were extracted
at the request of General Practitioners. The number of general anaesthetics
administered showed a large increase from 1,488 in 1971 to 1,789 this
year. Again 145 of these administrations were for patients referred by General
Practitioners.
One service which did not suffer as a result of the reduction in staff was
that for patients who cannot be treated by conventional means, mainly the
mentally and emotionally handicapped. One session every four weeks was set
aside to conserve the teeth of these patients under general anaesthesia.
Croydon's dental service is one of the very few providing this type of treatment.