Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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(b) Sunlight.—475 ultra-violet light treatments were given
during the year.
(c) Dental.—Mr. L. W. Elmer, L.D.S., Senior Dental Officer,
reports as follows
"In so far as the treatment of expectant and nursing
mothers is concerned, I can only repeat my statement of last
year. That is, that it does not seem reasonable to expect many
of these patients to willingly accept a prolonged course of
treatment, and that is exactly what the majority require in
order to be made dentally fit.
"It becomes more obvious to me each year that the only
reasonable course is to follow up the treatment of the girl
from school-leaving age through adolescence leaving little or
nothing to be done during the period of expectant motherhood.
"A distinct improvement may be noted in the response to
treatment of pre-school children and the number treated is
almost double that of last year. Quite a large proportion of
these children are brought to the clinic regularly and their
mothers are not waiting until pain compels them to come.
"It is satisfactory to note that, out of 602 children
examined it was only found necessary to extract 243 teeth.
"It is rather disheartening to note that 584 of these
children needed at least some treatment, and of these 552
received it. 264 of them were made dentally fit.
"I should again like to congratulate Mr. Timmis, who
has seen the majority of these children, on the success of his
methods in treating these small children."
The following gives details of the work done during the year by the Dental Officers :—
Numbers provided with dental care :
Expectant and nursing mothers | Children under 5 | |
---|---|---|
Number examined | 105 | 602 |
Number needing treatment | 104 | 584 |
Number treated | 104 | 552 |
Number made dentally lit | 32 | 269 |
Forms of dental treatment provided : | ||
Extractions | 164 | 243 |
Anaesthetics—Local | 8 | 4 |
General | 37 | 135 |
Fillings | 52 | 166 |
Scalings or scaling and gum treatment | 16 | 6 |
Silver Nitrate Treatment | 9 | 266 |
Dressings | 10 | 81 |
Radiographs | 1 | — |
Dentures provided—Complete | 13 | — |
Partial | 5 | — |