London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Leyton 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]

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The following figures give some idea of the dental treatment undertaken at the dental clinics during the year:—

Fillings :—
Permanent teeth5,459
Temporary teeth219
Total5,678
Extractions:—
Permanent teeth1,641
Temporary teeth6,170
Total7,811
Other operations:—
Permanent teeth782
Temporary teeth286
Total1,068

Administrations of general anaesthetics for extractions—1,940.
Report of the School Medical Officer—January, 1938.
On 6th January, 1936, the Board of Education issued to Education
Authorities Circular No. 1444 entitled " Administrative Programme of
Educational Development." In the part of the Circular dealing with
School Medical Service the Board suggested that Education Authorities
would do well to survey the needs of their areas and to consider what
further steps should be taken to remedy any deficiencies which may be
discovered in their present arrangements.
In September, 1936, I submitted to the Public Health, Maternity and
Child Welfare and Education Committees a special report from which I
submit the following extracts dealing with dental treatment.
(Extract from Report of School Medical Officer—September, 1936).
Board of Education Circular 1444 states :
" The School Dental Service is seriously incomplete in most parts
" of the country. Authorities should aim at securing an initial dental
" inspection of every child on its entry into school life, to be followed
" by an anunal re-examination until the child ceases to attend school.
" On this basis the Board estimate that, with a normal number of
" acceptances for treatment, a minimum standard should consist of
" one dentist for 5,000 childern in an urban area and 4,000 children
" in a rural area, although this is insufficient where a high percentage