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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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52
In a special survey of 5 year old children, 59 per cent had no
decayed teeth, treated or otherwise. The average number of decayed,
missing and filled teeth was 5.5.
TREATMENT
8,671 children attended on 31,808 occasions to receive 26,791 fillings and to have 3,524 teeth extracted. The actual variations of extraction totals with ages are as follows:
| Age Group | Number of teeth extracted | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1971 | ||
| 5 - 9 years | 2,085 | 1,938 | Decrease of 147 |
| 10 - 14 years | 1,299 | 1,206 | Decrease of 93 |
| 15 and above | 179 | 180 | Increase of 1 |
| Totals | 3,563 | 3,324 | Decrease of 239 |
The ratio of teeth extracted to teeth filled was 14.3 to 1 for
permanent teeth and 4. 0 to 1 for deciduous ones (16.8 and 3.70 to 1 in
1970). If those extracted for orthodontic reasons are eliminated the
ratios become 20.4 to 1 and 4.7 to 1 (23.3 and 4.4 in 1970). There was
again a rise in the number of emergency visits.
Great emphasis has continued to be placed on preventive care against
gum and tooth disease, and there has therefore been a vast increase in
the number of scalings, polishings and application of topical fluorides.
The percentage of those originally treated who had an additional course
of treatment was 27.2 (27.9 in 1970).
GENERAL ANAESTHESIA
There was a reduction of 11.8 general anaesthetic sessions and 250
individual cases. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing for sickle cell anaemia
has continued.
MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
As from April 1971, these children came under the Education Authority
for health as well as educational purposes. It is a well known fact that
the mentally handicapped have much more gum disease as well as dental
decay than do normal people. A very great deal of time has been spent on
preventive measures for this group of patients. This is a very worthwhile
aspect of the work. Unfortunately no real account is taken of
this in statistical returns. This is most unfortunate as it often appears
that dentists and auxiliaries are not doing very much work - quite
obviously they cannot be doing masses of fillings as well as prevention,
and the latter is of much greater value. Is it really necessary that
in this day and age quality must give way to quantity?