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There was thus again a vast change in emphasis from extraction to conservation,
a clear improvement. 249 permanent teeth and 168 deciduous ones were extracted
for orthodontic reasons, and not because of decay, giving ratios of 16.1 to 1
and 3.5 to 1 respectively. 31 dentures were supplied to replace missing teeth.
It is very worrying to note that there were 11,643 failed appointments.
One wonders why parents ask for treatment and then fail to ensure that
children keep their appointments. This may partly explain why the percentage
made dentally fit fell from 93 per cent in 1967 to 69 per cent.
ORTHODONTICS
Fewer children were taken on for active treatment as the sessional orthodontist
left the service. Therefore, the Principal School Dental Officer had
to treat many of the cases himself.
A full-time orthodontist is to start work early in 1969, at which time
it will be possible to help an increased number of children. Nevertheless
290.7 out of the 826.6 sessions devoted to orthodontics in the Inner London
Education Authority area were worked in Hackney. It is important to remember
that the statistics of children treated only includes those for whom appliance
therapy has been necessary. However, with shrewd diagnosis and treatment
planning, many children are treated by removing crowded teeth at the correct
time and allowing the remaining teeth to straighten by themselves. Many such
cases have been treated during the past year, but these are not counted as
orthodontic patients for statistical purposes. The orthodontic work load is
thus much greater than appears at first sight.
"HEALTHY TEETH FOR HACKNEY" CAMPAIGN
This was a major feature of the Health Department's work during 1968,
being mainly directed towards primary school children. The response was overwhelming.
Lectures to 20,000 primary school children in 70 schools were given.
Each school received packs containing dental health literature and posters.
The latter were usually already on display when the lecturers arrived at schools.
Talks were given to the children by Pierre the Clown, Mrs. J. Thomas (Inner
London Education Authority Dental Health Educator), Miss D. Land (Dental Health
Lecturer, Oral Hygiene Service) and students from the School for Dental
Auxiliaries at New Cross. Pierre also visited Hackney Training Centre and
Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children. During the Clown's lectures, children
were given apples, Apple Club badges, and painting sheets. Head Teachers were
very co-operative, interested in the campaign and grateful for the efforts
being made in this field. Many teachers had obviously made an attempt to
bring to the children's notice the subject of teeth and dental health. In
some classes graphs had been made of the types of toothpaste used by the
children, and pamphlets and posters were often used as centre-pieces in larger
displays. Lectures were given at a Mothers' club and at a Youth Club.
Simple talks and a short cartoon film on dental health were presented for
some of the older trainees at Hackney and Homerton Training Centres.
A Dental Health Exhibition at Shoreditch Health Centre lasted a fortnight. In
addition to children and parents, some leading members of the dental scene came
to have a look at the exhibits; these included the Chief Dental Officers of many
of the London Boroughs, an Inspector from the Department of Education and Science,
the Chairman of the Dental Health Committee of the Irish Dental Association, the
Director of the Oral Hygiene Service, representatives of the dental press, and
members of the local dental profession. Many favourable comments were received.
In addition to models, photographs and posters related to dental health and