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
Hendon 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]
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115
domestic circumstances, and throughout the spirit of co-operation
evinced by the parents was very noticeable."
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICES.
It is pleasing to be able to report that there has been
a further improvement in certain directions in the results of
the work carried out by your Dental Officers.
An increasing percentage of parents whose children have
been inspected and who require treatment are anxious to avail
themselves of the conservative work offered and a correspondingly
smaller percentage remains who are averse to the filling
of teeth.
The figures below relate to children attending the public elementary schools and secondary schools:—
| Fillings per 100 children. | Extractions per 100 children. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 145 | 205 |
| 1937 | 156 | 184 |
In addition, the actual number of extractions of permanent
teeth has dropped from 2,032 to 1,826, giving a final
analysis of one permanent extraction to every three children
treated.
The technique of pulp capping has been continued with
success and over 100 teeth have been treated in this way,
with only two apparent failures and these occurred in teeth
which from the start gave little hope of success. This treatment
is adopted in cases of extensive dental caries where the
only alternative consists in Killing the nerve, with a
consequent lessening of the life of the tooth.
Vinyl Ether, a comparatively new anaesthetic, was used
for the first time at the clinics this year. When used in conjunction
with Oxygen it produces a longer anaesthesia for
multiple extractions and difficult cases, together with a complete
muscular relaxation. The recovery period is quick