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DENTAL CARE FOR THE ADULT MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
In addition to the surgery already functioning at Homerton, a further one
was opened at the new Albion Road senior training centre. The high standard of
dental care for the mentally handicapped has been maintained. It was again
found necessary to fill less decayed teeth per patient than previously. Hie
average patient required 1.7 fillings (2.9 in 1972). We have therefore continued
to concentrate on the prevention of both tooth decay and gum disease.
Although slightly more patients were treated, they attended for less sessions
and visits than in 1972. The ratio of teeth filled to teeth extracted was 3.4
to 1 (8.0 to 1 in 1972). 89 per cent of patients treated during the year had a
subsequent course of treatment. Mr. D. Stone, the senior dental officer who
has undertaken the dental care of these patients since our scheme commenced is
to be congratulated and thanked for all he is doing for them.
In order to fully evaluate the situation prior to reorganisation of the
N.H. S. in 1974, a full epidemiological survey is just being carried out.