View report page

24
THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
YEAR 1947
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.
The immediate problem in Willesden is to acquire additional clinic accommodation for two further Dental
Officers and one Orthodontist.
Despite all efforts during the year, the heavy demand and prompt negotiations by outside agencies have prevented
the procurement of suitable vacant premises for adaptation. This, together with the ban on the erection of
new buildings, offers little prospect in the immediate future of making good the deficiencies in the dental service
in Willesden.
Thus, the service has, of necessity, been operated on the same limited scale as in previous years by only four
full-time Dental Officers.
During the year under review two Dental Officers were appointed on the permanent staff in place of the two
engaged on a war-time temporary capacity. One of these permanent officers resigned his appointment in November.
This changing of staff somewhat interrupted the service.
The total number of sessions worked by the four Dental Officers amounted to 1,918, which were assigned
to the different sections of the service as follows :—
Treatment Sessions allocated to School Health Service 1,269
Routine Inspection Sessions allocated to School Health Service 123
Treatment Sessions allocated to Maternity and Child Welfare 501
Sessions allocated to Administration 14
Sessions allocated to Post-Graduate Instruction 11
Total 1,918
Included in the above total are 166 sessions attended by the Anaesthetist when 3,401 general anaesthetics
were administered, which makes an average of over 20 cases per session.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Inspections.
Routine.—8,752 children out of a total roll of approximately 20,000 were inspected at the schools during
123 visits, which is an average of 71 inspections per session. 6,216 or 71 per cent. were found defective and referred
for treatment. Complete recording of all defects found was done as in former years and advice and instructions for
the care of the teeth given to all parents attending the schools.
Specials.—2,350 children were inspected at the Centres and of these 2,140 required treatment. While many
of these cases are emergencies who have ignored advice given at routine inspections, a large and growing proportion
are children whose parents have learned the value of preventative dentistry and seek advice on very slight evidence
of defect as well as many leavers seeking a final examination.
Treatment.
Out of a total of 8,356 referred as defective, 5,541 were treated at the Centres, which is an acceptance rate
of 66 per cent.
6,134 teeth were extracted, of which 893 were permanent. Out of this latter figure 139 were extracted for
the relief of overcrowding.
The total number of fillings done was 7,950, of which 6,080 were restorations to permanent teeth. Thus
the ratio of permanent teeth filled to permanent teeth extracted on account of extensive caries is 8 to 1.
Miscellaneous treatments such as root fillings, zinc oxide dressings, gum treatment, etc., amounted to 2,634.
13,797 attendances were recorded, which averages just over 2 visits per patient.
It has been gratifying to have access to the Middlesex County Council Special Clinics and many cases requiring
crowns, dentures and space retainers have been referred to them for their treatment.
The total number of sessions taken up with the School Dental Service amounted to 1,392 and the average work
done per session is estimated to the nearest decimal point as follows:—
Attendances 10
Fillings 6
Extractions 4
Sundry operations 2
Total operations 12