London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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TREATMENT.

No. of Children.Attendances.Extractions.Anaesthetics.Fillings.Other Operations
Temp. Teeth.Perm. Teeth.Local.General.Perm. Teeth.Perm. Teeth.
Sir George Monoux Grammar School54195143522915426
Commercial School for G irls110446976860520134
High School for Girls48956431298224
Technical College for Boys286715148115
Totals19372408032916911132837199
1936225433251327106459115

Owing to the large number of pupils requiring treatment, no
dental inspections were possible during 1937 at the Boys' Schools.
The position was aggravated by applications for treatment being
received independently of dental inspections. The large increase in
the number of attendances and in the number of permanent fillings
will be noticed.
Mr. L. W. Elmer, L.D.S., Senior Dental Surgeon, reports as
follows:—
"The year under review has seen the appointment from October
1st of a fourth dental surgeon and attendant. This, with the present
school population of 18,000, reduces the number of children to
rather less than 5,000 children per dental surgeon. This is in line
with the Board of Education's recommendation of the staff required
to deal with the expected number of acceptances, and it may be
appropriate to review the whole scope of the dental scheme in
comparison with the suggestions enumerated in the Chief Medical
Officer's 'Conditions of a satisfactory School Dental Scheme.'
(1) Aims of the School Dental Service—
'That as many children as possible should leave school
(a) Without the loss of permanent teeth ;
(b) free from dental disease ;
(c) trained in the care of the teeth.'
(a) In this respect we still fall short of the ideal, principally
owing to the fact that so many parents persist in refusing to accept
preventive work and only agree to treatment when extractions are
required. Caries in incisor teeth presents an exception to this, and
both parents and children usually display great eagerness for these
teeth (the only ones visible) to be retained at all costs. The molars,
which are really a more vital necessity to health, only assume
importance when they cause discomfort and pain, long after they
can be satisfactorily restored.