London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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52
SCHOOL DENTAL INSPECTIONS
89.7% of the school population was examined, which is very good indeed.
67% of these were found to need some form of dental care. Approximately 69% of
those parents replying to the offer of dental care asked for their children to
receive this care from the school dental service. The rest indicated apreference
for the family practitioner.
In a special survey, only 25.6% of the 5 year old children had no decayed
teeth, treated or otherwise. It is thus essential that treatment and prevention
begin well before the child goes to school. This includes the essential
provision of a fluoridated water supply.
9,534 children attended on 30,570 occasions to receive 28,510 fillings and to have 3,563 teeth extracted. Thus 476 additional children attended to have 1,165 more fillings and 142 more teeth extracted than in 1969. The actual variation in extraction totals varied with age, as shown in the following chart:-
| Age Group | Number of teeth extracted 1969 1970 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-9 years | 1,834 | 2,085 | Increase of 251 |
| 10-14 years | 1,394 | 1,299 | Decrease of 90 |
| 15 and over | 193 | 179 | Decrease of 14 |
| TOTALS: | 3,421 | 3,563 | Increase of 142 |
It is sad to note that it was found necessary to extract many more teeth
from younger children. The only good thing that can be said is that as less
general anaesthetics were administered more teeth are obviously being taken out
with injections, which young children readily accept. One must also note that
the number of patients attending for emergency visits has again gone up. During
the coming year we shall have to consider why this is so.
The ratio of teeth filled to teeth extracted was 16.80 to 1 for permanent
teeth and 3.70 to 1 for deciduous ones, against 16.25 and 3.65 respectively in
1969. This is a further improvement on an already excellent record, showing the
benefits to be gained from modern techniques of conservation. If those teeth
which were removed for orthodontic reasons are eliminated the ratios rise to
23.3 to 1 for permanent teeth and 4.4 to 1 for deciduous teeth.
The number of dentures and crowns made for children has nearly doubled.
There has also been avast increase in the number of teeth saved by root fillings.
There is need for expansion in the provision of advanced techniques and it is to
be hoped that the appointment of a second senior dental officer in the early part
of the new year to concern himself mainly with these aspects of the work will
greatly advance the care given.