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the higher age groups—12 to 18 years—twice, the number
inspected being 21,033, those referred for treatment numbering
9,240. The number of attendances at the Clinics during the year
was 8,733.
The above figures show that more than 50 per cent, of the
children inspected had sound mouths, an improvement even on
the previous year's high percentage. The detailed figures for each
age group show that the highest number of sound mouths occurs
at the ages of 9 and 10 years. This is probably due to the fact that
by the time a child reaches this age, the temporary molars have
either fallen out in the normal way or have been extracted, leaving
the average mouth with the four first permanent molars and the
upper and lower incisors. If the molars have been filled where
necessary, the child can hope for a period when the mouth will
be free from caries, as very often the upper incisors do not need
any attention until adolescence.
In the Borough, there has been in the past a definite antipathy
towards conservative treatment, this has been mainly due to fear
and ignorance, and also the belief that fillings fall out and the teeth
have to be extracted later, proving that fillings are a waste of time.
The ignorance of the parents may possibly be attributed to the
fact that prior to the war, only children up to the age of 11 years
were inspected and treated in the Dental Clinics, the older children
were not treated at all unless they reported with toothache and had
to have the inevitable extraction. During the War, owing to
shortage of staff, bombing and other difficulties, treatment was of
the simplest. It will be seen, therefore, that the dental education
of parents and children in the Borough has been sadly neglected.
In the near future, everybody, young and old alike, will have the
opportunity of obtaining dental treatment without cost to themselves
and it is very important that everybody should realise the
value of this part of the Health Service. We do not want this
to be a negative form of treatment existing solely for extractions
and the provision of dentures. The public must be taught to
preserve their teeth and this is where the school service can play
such a valuable role.
Here in East Ham, we are very conscious of the important
part we play in the education of the children and every endeavour
is made to enlighten the parents and children in the benefits to be
derived from regular conservative treatment.