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17
THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
for the
YEAR 1939,
on
DENTAL WORK in connection with SCHOOL CHILDREN,
EXPECTANT and NURSING MOTHERS and CHILDREN
under 5 years.
By E. A. JENNINGS, L.D.S., R.C.S.Eng.
CURTAILMENTS.
Civil Population.
The Dental Service continued on normal lines until the Midsummer vacation. At the
commencement of hostilities compulsory education ceased, schools closed, children left the district
for the reception areas and routine dental work could no longer be in operation.
Health Centres.
Health Centre (3) at Stonebridge was closed as a health centre and adapted as a First Aid Post.
Dental equipment sufficient for one surgery was dispatched to the reception area for the use of
Willesden children.
Health Centre (1) at Kilburn and Health Centre (2) at High Road, Willesden, have since
carried on the Authority's work between them.
Staff.
One Dental Surgeon resigned his appointment in September. He had completed twelve
years' service with the Council.
A second Dental Surgeon is on the Active Army List, and will, in due course, be called for
service as a dental officer in the Army Dental Corps. He has, in the meantime, been temporarily
transferred to the country, where the majority of Willesden children are accommodated.
Two Dental Nurses have also been taken out of the service. Thus a skeleton staff of 2
Dental Surgeons and 2 Dental Nurses alone remain on duty for dental work in the Borough.
Reaction.
The public anxiety and disorganisation of the first few weeks of war brought the work of the
Clinics to a standstill. This period of inactivity soon passed, and the requests for treatment regained
considerable proportions.
The Year's Work.
The number of working sessions amounted to 1,594, which were utilised as follows:—
Treatment sessions at the Centre 1,371
Routine inspection sessions 181
Administration (including Civil Defence) 42
1,594
39 sessions were lost on account of sickness and 9 sessions included in the above figure (1,594)
were worked by locum tenens.
The Anaesthetist attended on 146 sessions and administered 2,794 general anaesthetics. An
average of 19 per session.
13,730 mothers, infants, elementary and secondary school children were inspected.
10,689 or 77 per cent. were found defective and 4,034 or 36 per cent. were treated at the Centres.
11,350 teeth were extracted, 6,770 fillings done and 3,265 other operations performed, making
a total of 21,385 treatments.
The average work done per session is set out in the table below:—
Total Operations
Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Sundries. per Session.
10 4-9 8 2 14-9
Maternity and Child Welfare.
A marked feature of the year's work is the continued growth of this service.
1,874 mothers and infants have been inspected at the Centres, an increase of no fewer than
859 over last year's total of 1,015.
76 of the number inspected were passed as not requiring treatment, and of the remaining
1,798 patients, 1,059 were treated at the Centres.
Treatment for mothers tends to become more and more conservative, and fewer teeth were
extracted although 198 more patients were treated this year than last.
The method of gum treatment also conserved many teeth, and 76 cases of gum packs and
gingivectomy have been undertaken as against 53 for 1938. There is every reason to extend this
form of treatment, as it not only improves oral health, but is also of considerable educational value.