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52
DENTAL SERVICES.
Mr. James H. Glen, School Dental Surgeon, reports as
follows for 1944:—
After a very good start in the first few months of 1944, when
we exceeded the estimated number of 150 sessions which were
expected to cover the requirements of the Higher Education
Scholars for the whole year, the Evacuation put an end to this
early promise of success, and although we continued " in
residence " at the Clinic, the small attendance produced a very
small output of work, which was, however, completed without
mishap ; although we were lucky that the dental chair was
empty when the bomb fell in Wharton Road and shattered our
windows.
It is unfortunate that the first full year of the enlarged
dental scheme should coincide with the first year that Bromley
has been made an evacuation area. 2,914 children and 55
mothers were examined for evacuation, out of a total school
population of 5,200. In consequence, the output of work for each
surgeon employed has been proportionately small. However,
the lower attendance has resulted in a greater amount of work
per child at each session, and, except for the necessitous excursions
to shelter, more time could be spent in consultation with
the parent.
I do not think the low attendance of the welfare children
is entirely due to the evacuation. The steady decline in the
figures during the war years is more certainly due to an increased
intake of advice and vitamins provided at the Welfare Centres,
together with a fortunate shortage of cheap paste sweets. An
examination of the records of pre-war years shows that each
welfare child attending the Dental Clinic required 3.9 unsaveable
temporary teeth extracted. The average for the last three war
years is 1.9 unsaveable temporary teeth extracted per child.
When it is remembered that the crowns of the temporary teeth
are formed before birth, it is possible that this improvement
in the dentition is due to the simpler diet both for the antenatal
mother and the welfare child provided by war-time fare
There is, however, a rapid deterioration of the dentition in the
6 years to 8 years age groups, and it would seem that the failure
to continue the supply of vitamin foods to these children may
be one of the causes of the deterioration. Perhaps the proposed
supply of Orange Jelly to school canteens will help to improve
the dentition of these children.
I am indebted to the Clinic staff and voluntary helpers who
have assisted them during this unhappy year.
(Signed) J. H. GLEN, L.D.S.