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 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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55
Priority Dental Service
In 1954, 18% of the dental officers' time was devoted to the priority service, which treated
expectant mothers 28%, nursing mothers 10% and children under five 62%. (Table 2.)
During the year 767 children under 5 were inspected, including 236 inspected at nursery schools;
80% required treatment and 66% had their treatment completed.
There is also an increase in the number of expectant and nursing mothers treated; every opportunity
is taken to explain to the mothers the value of early and regular treatment for their children.
Despite staffing difficulties, there has been a slight improvement in the priority service.

Table: Table 1 Dental Inspections and Treatment(a) Inspection

Table 1 Dental Inspections and Treatment

(a) Inspection

Age GroupsNo. inspectedNo. found to require treatmentNo. referred for treatment at the County Council's dental clinics
Under 5 (Nursery Schools only)236122133
5—16 and over8,2666,5595,395
Specials2,3622,2692,192
Totals: 195410,8648,9507,700
195311,5579,8408,936

Table: (b) Treatment

(b) Treatment

19541953
No. of pupils actually treated4,8564,929
No. of attendances made for treatment12,24213,879
No. of half-days devoted to
(a) Inspection136165
(b) Treatment1,6481,896
No. of fillings of
(a) Permanent teeth6,6536,964
(b) Temporary teeth4,3755,540
No. of extractions of
(a) Permanent teeth659683
(b) Permanent teeth for orthodontia270160
(c) Temporary teeth4,4504,787
No. of anaesthetics
(a) General2,3082,585
(b) Local216214
Other Operations4,0204,450

Table: Table 2 Priority Dental Service

Table 2 Priority Dental Service

Expectant MothersNursing MothersChildren under 5
195419531954195319541953
No. examined2842818868767790
No. needing treatment2792798867616609
New cases commenced treatment2502489785552512
Cases made dentally fit76785053366410
Extractions359420120143519470
Fillings6296002001829741,107
Scalings and gum treatment1501366643--
Silver nitrate----424298
Dentures14214043--
Total attendances8899384814401,3221,329
Appointments not kept1681805883205205