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23
THE TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
YEAR 1942,
on
DENTAL WORK in connection with SCHOOL CHILDREN, EXPECTANT
and NLJRSING MOTHERS and CHILDREN under 5 years.
By E. A. JENNINGS, L.D.S., R.C.S.Eng.
The Stonebridge Health Centre utilised for air-raid precaution purposes since commencement of
hostilities, reopened as a Health Centre on 16th November. One dental surgeon instead of the former two
has been reinstated there. This partial restoration of the public health service will be particularly welcomed
by the residents of the Stonebridge area, who have, during all this time, been placed at a disadvantage by
long distance for the other Health Centres available. This is the only change that has occurred since my
last report in 1941, and the benefits derived therefrom will become manifest in subsequent reports.
THE YEAR'S WORK.
The total working sessions amounted to 1,147, and were utilised as follows :—
Treatment sessions at the Centres 1,055
Routine Inspection sessions 82
Administration sessions 10
Total 1,147
The Anaesthetist attended 114 times and administered anaesthetics to 2,681 patients, which is an
average of 23-5 patients per session.
8,407 mothers, infants, elementary and secondary school children were inspected.
6,413 were defective and 3,579 were treated at the Centres.
9,832 teeth were removed, 5,378 fillings were done and 1,031 other operations, making a total of
16,241 treatments.
12,056 attendances were recorded by these patients.
ELEMENTARY, NURSERY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
The total number of children on roll in December was 12,727, as compared with 10,146 in December, 1941.
Inspection.
Routine.—5,038 children received oral examination during 78 visits, an average of 65 a session.
S-pecials.—971 children were inspected at the Centres and the necessary treatment carried out.
4,391 were found defective and 2,177, or nearly 49-5 per cent., were treated at the Centres.
Tkeatment.
5,828 teeth were extracted, of which 1,000 were permanent.
There were 2,385 fillings done on permanent teeth and 354 on the milk series, making a total of
2,739 fillings.
310 incidental treatments, including root fillings to anterior teeth, minor gum treatments, silver nitrate
and sedative dressings, were done.
481 sessions were assigned to these treatments.
WILLESDEN SECONDARY AND JUNIOR TECHNICAL, ETC., SCHOOLS.
Inspection.
It was impossible to complete the routine inspection of all these schools without further encroaching on
the requirements of the Willesden dental service. A number of scholars who were subject to routine inspection
in December, 1941, received their treatment during 1942.
The total number of children treated was 237. There were 537 fillings, 199 extractions and 97 incidental
treatments done. All this work was completed in 72 sessions.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
This service continues to develop as it has done for a number of years past. 1,165 mothers and infants
received treatment, an increase of 218 on 1941, and it is gratifying to see that conservative dentistry is playing
a more significant part in the Service. This has not been achieved without ceaseless efforts on the part of the
staff in teaching the great importance of oral hygiene and the dangers of neglect of dental disease.
2,102 teeth were filled, 3,805 teeth removed and 624 miscellaneous treatments done. There were 870
administrations of general anaesthetics.
143 dentures were supplied and there were repairs to 2 dentures.
5,739 attendances were recorded and the equivalent of 499 sessions were utilised for this work.