[Report 1969] / School Medical Officer of Health, Nottingham City.

  • Nottingham (England). City Council.
Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1969] / School Medical Officer of Health, Nottingham City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/48 (page 9)
    Year Permanent teeth extracted : Permanent teeth filled 1965 1 : 311 1966 1 : 4-68 1967 1 : 5-96 1968 1 : 3-41 1969 1 : 4-72 Applications for emergency treatment rose by 9% during 1969, despite a substantial increase in the amount of conservation provided. Ibis illustrates well the close relationship between demand and avail¬ ability in the provision of a dental service. While appreciating that relief of pain must always be a first priority, a radical improvement in dental health can only occur by the development of regular inspection, treatment, education and prevention. It is in the latter that my hopes for the immedi¬ ate future lie. The most dramatic change took place in the number of deciduous teeth filled. A table of comparison is set out below. Year Number of Deciduous teeth filled 1965 130 1966 286 1967 424 1968 324 1969 2,198 The increase in 1969 has a two-fold reason, the first being the employ¬ ment of dental auxiliaries who concentrate their efforts on younger children and the second a general improvement in staffing which has left dental officers free to spend more time on conservative dentistry. Postgraduate Training: One of the dental staff continues to attend the General Hospital for one session each week both to see children referred from City schools and to gain invaluable experience in the treatment of more difficult cases. During October, Mrs. Durance spent a week at the Eastman Dental Hospital at a general anaesthetic course which proved both enjoyable and instructive. Mental Health—Dental Care: In 1969, 26 patients presented for advice of whom 20 were treated. It is hoped that, during 1970, a more comprehensive dental service will be offered to these patients who, so often, are those in greatest need. N. H. WH1TEHOUSE, B.ch.D., l.d.s. Principal School Dental Officer.