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A survey of the incidence of dental decay carried out on behalf of the Ministry of
Education by seven local education authorities showed that the percentage of five year
old children showing no decayed, missing or filled teeth decreased between 1953 and
1958 from 14.8% to 12.8% that is, a reduction of rather more than one eighth, while the
decrease in the 12 year olds was from 12% to 5% - a reduction of well over a half.
In the five year age group during the same period the average number of decayed,
missing or filled teeth per child has risen from 5. 1 to 5.6 an increase of nearly 12%
but the 12 year group figure has risen from 3.8 to 5.5 or over 44% (vide "Health of
the School Child" 1958 - 1959 p.39).
It is very satisfactory to report that during the year the now high speed compressed
air turbine drills were installed in two of our five dental surgeries.
The reports of the dentists using this apparatus, and of very many patients who
have been on the receiving end are most satisfactory. What vibration there is with
these drills is mostly beyond the range of human perception, the work is accomplished
in less time, and the general over all experience is of a vast improvement over the
earlier methods of cavity preparation.
ORTHODONTICS
During the year a part-time orthodontic specialist was appointed by the N. E.
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to Whipps Cross Hospital where he will be available
to our dental officers who may need a second opinion on the treatment of an orthodontic
case in this area.
DENTAL HYGIENE
The work of the dental hygienist (Mrs.Thurston) particularly on the educational
side is of great value in helping our patients to take greater care of their teeth when
once the mouth has been rendered dentally fit and between courses of treatment. She
instructs them in approved methods of tooth brushing and also in good dietary principles.
This appears to be particularly necessary at the present time when the children
are subjected to mass advertising on the television screen, and elsewhere, by skilled
salesmen and appealed to during school hours by the school tuck shop.
The following table extracted from "The Health of the School Child 1958-1959"
gives some idea of the size of the problem one has to face in the realm of sugar
consumption in the country.

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