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
Willesden 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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51
THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Year 1933,
on
DENTAL WORK in connection with SCHOOL CHILDREN,
EXPECTANT and NURSING MOTHERS and CHILDREN
under 5 years.
By E. A. JENNINGS, L.DS, R.C.S.Eng.
I have the privilege to submit the Sixteenth Annual Report.
PART I.
The total working sessions of the four Dental Officers amounted to 1,971, of these 1,600
were occupied at the Centres, 361 at Routine School Inspections and 10 in organization.
The work done during the 1,600 sessions at the Centres included the inspection of 710
mothers and 1,931 children of school age and below. In addition 265 incompleted cases of mothers
and infants from the previous year were under treatment.
In all 6.046 patients were treated, for whom 10,621 tooth restorations by fillings were done,
17,081 teeth extracted and 6,401 incidental treatments.
A total of 17,710 attendances for treatment at the Centres were registered by these patients.
The Anaesthetist visited the Centres during 188 sessions and administered general anaesthetics
to 3,946 cases, thus making an average of 20.9 per session. Also 624 patients received local
anaesthesia. During the 361 visits made by the Dental Officers to the Schools 19,629 scholars were
examined and the condition of the teeth of each child recorded and charted. Special attention was
given to those children in the 12-13 year age group who appeared to be immune to dental caries,
details of which appear hereafter.
A Summary of the year's work compared with the years 1930 to 1932 is tabulated as follows :—
Table No. 35.
Comparative Table of Work done for Years 1933, 1932, 1931 and 1930.
| 1933 | 1932 | 1931 | 1930 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total inspected— | ||||
| Mothers, Infants and School Children | 22,270 | 23,044 | 23,306 | 18,069 |
| Number defective | 15,106 | 16,454 | 16,588 | 14,924 |
| ,, treated | 6,046 | 6,397 | 5,718 | 4,638 |
| Teeth removed | 17,081 | 17,660 | 17,393 | 14,421 |
| „ filled | 10,621 | 10,311 | 8,725 | 5,837 |
| Sundry operations | 6,401 | 6,473 | 4,513 | 1,916 |
| General anaesthetics | 3,946 | 3,919 | 3,970 | 3,037 |
| Treatment sessions | 1,600 | 1,572 | 1,523 | 1,347 |
| Inspection sessions | 361 | 400 | 408 | 357 |
A glance at the various items shows that there has been a gradual increase in the number of
patients treated, although fewer were inspected. Also that the number of fillings done, namely
10,621, is the highest figure yet attained. This represents an increase of 310 over the year 1932, and
1,896 and 4,784 over the years 1931 and 1930 respectively. On the other hand, the number of
teeth extracted, compared with the two previous years, shows a promising decrease, indicating a
growing appreciation of conservative work.