London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
This page requires JavaScript
55
The ratio of teeth extracted to teeth filled was 16.8: 1 for permenent
teeth and 4: 1 for deciduous ones. (14.3 and 4.0: 1 in 1971). If we
eliminiate those extracted for orthodontic reasons, the ratio becomes 20.0: 1
and 4.9: 1 (20.4 and 4.7 in 1971).
There was a slight rise in the number of emergency visits, from 4.6 per
cent of the total visits in 1971 to 4.9 per cent.
We have continued to place much emphasis on preventive care, especially
against gum disease. There has been avast Increase in the number of scalings
and polishings. The percentage of those originally treated, who had an
additional course of treatment, was 18.3 (16.7 per cent in 1971).
General Anaesthesia
There was a reduction of 40 individual general anaesthetics and 1.6
sessions. Blood testing for sickle cell anaemia takes place prior to all
general anaesthetics sessions.
Mentally Handicapped Children
Until the end of 1971 we carried out much prevention at Marsh House
School (Special Care Unit) and Ickburgh School for the Mentally Handicapped.
Unfortunately circumstances forced us to stop visiting the latter, for
the moment. This was felt, by all dental staff, to be a very worthwhile
aspect of our work.
Dental Health Education
We are eternally grateful to our Dental Auxiliaries for all the time
they have spent on this aspect of our work.
Post Graduate Studies
Staff have continued to attend Post Graduate courses, lectures and conferences, including the annual conference of the British Dental Association.
| School Dental Service Statis tics | 1972 | 1971 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Number of Sessions: | ||
| Inspections | 262. 2 | 204.6 |
| Treatment - ordinary | 6171.9 | 5746.6 |
| Treatment - general anaesthetic | 20. 2 | 21.8 |
| Treatment - orthodontics | 404.9 | 401.0 |
| Dental Health Education | 70.2 | 44. 5 |
| TOTAL | 6929.4 | 6418.5 |
| 2. First Inspections: | ||
| a) Number of first inspections at school | 32,069 | 22,915 |
| b) Number of first inspection at clinics | 5,843 | 4,876 |
| c) TOTAL | 37,912 | 27,791 |
| d) Percentage of school roll Inspected | 102.3 | 77.3 |
| e) Number found to require treatment | 26,118 | 19,398 |
| f) Percentage of number inspected found to require treatment | 68.9 | 69.8 |
| g) Number offered treatment | 23,010 | 17, 058 |
| h) Percentage of number requiring treatment offered treatment | 88. 1 | 87.9 |