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87
VI.—MUNICIPAL DENTAL HOSPITAL.
It is pleasing to be able to record that the work of the dental hospital continues
to increase and that all sections of the community are taking advantage of this
institution, which is rather unique in the annals of public health work.
The dental clinic was opened in 1927 and the institution was transferred to its
new premises—the Municipal Dental Hospital—in 1932. A full-time staff consisting
of dental surgeon, nurses ajid mechanics is employed and all persons who live or work
in Shoreditch are eligible for treatment.
Not so many years ago the difficulty of obtaining adequate dental treatment
and of providing dentures at small cost frequently militated against the treatment
of cases of tuberculosis and other diseases, and was also a distinct blot on the record
of achievement in purely preventive methods. Much has been written on all aspects
of dental work—the dangers of sepsis, its ultimate effects, often upon a healthy system,
the effects of a deficiency of teeth upon health, and the relatively high incidence of
minor malformations of the jaws and teeth which may ultimately predispose to general
ill-health. While these dangers have been widely recognised in the past in most
areas, their removal in individuals of the poorer classes has been possible only in
children of school age. Sometimes in quite large authorities provision for the dental
treatment of cases of tuberculosis is non-existent, and those who have had to supervise
the treatment of such cases in institutions know how hopeless is the task of effecting
a satisfactory cure when there are no facilities for proper dental treatment.
In Shoreditch the needs of all members of the community, old or young, are
catered for, and there is some evidence that the work which has been done is having
a good effect upon the general health of the inhabitants.
Procedure at the Dental Hospital.
As has already been stated, any persons who live or work in Shoreditch
are eligible for treatment. Applicants who state that they are unable to afford
the prescribed charges are asked to complete a form giving the number in family
and income. They are also required to sign an undertaking that they understand
that they may be called upon to reimburse the Council if their circumstances
improve at a later date. These particulars are verified by the Enquiry Officer and
the charge for treatment is assessed according to a scale which was given in the
Annual Report for 1933. The remission of charges is, however, limited to persons
who have resided in the borough for a period of not less than six months. The six
months' residential qualification to which reference has been made, does not apply
to Maternity and Child Welfare cases, who are entitled to the appropriate remissions
by reason of the fact that they are referred to the hospital from one or other of the
welfare centres.