2024 Dentists

Social Snapshot by Joan West. Dentists. Recently I was made aware that now, in 2024, it can be difficult to find a National Health Service dentist. In this case the need included some children. 75 to 85 years ago that would not have been a problem because the dentist came to the school. Now, if any children are reading this, let me reassure you that the dentists of today would kill the pain, so that anything that had to be done to the teeth would not hurt all that much. They couldn’t do that all those years ago. In 2000 the Local History Group invited past pupils of Lacey Green School to a reunion. 89 former pupils came. They were all given a questionnaire to fill in. There was also a blank space to write about any special impressions that stuck in their mind. You need to imagine the school 75 to 85 years ago, which then only consisted of the old part nearest the Main Road. Margaret Harris, the policeman’s daughter, who lived at the old Graham Cottages and was at the school from 1933-1939, wrote - “I wonder how many remember the school dentist. Mrs Guerney's office/stock room was used I still recall the dusty surroundings and the smell of old books. The Harris twins (me & my brother John) had toothbrushes, but still had more treatment than others. Some who didn't have a toothbrush needed no fillings. Our mother was in Barts having a major operation, but oh how I needed a cuddle. Thank goodness dentistry has advanced since then.” Dennis Claydon, who lived in Kiln Lane, was at the school from 1947-1953, he wrote :-

“The visits of the school dentist left a lasting impression. To a small boy of six or seven the dentist appeared to be an elderly, silver haired lady, although she was probably not so elderly! There was a very big dentists’ chair. One had to climb on a box to clamber into this large piece of furniture. The drill was operated by means of a foot treadle, which was very terrifying, there being no pain killing injections. Even today the thought of it makes me shudder!”

Others wrote of the horror of it and how the dentist seemed to work that treadle so slowly. Dennis Claydon, was the last to mention the dentist. He was six in 1948. The National Health Service was started that year in July. Although this school service was loathed by the children, I can’t help thinking they must have had their welfare at heart. After 1948 it seems that the school left the NHS to get on with it. It is a pity they seem to have a problem in 2024! I would welcome any comments or information you might be able to provide to add to my media wiki about our local history, such as some information just given to me of how that person’s father managed to pull out his own bad teeth. To see the wiki for yourself go to LaceyGreenHistory.com. Put any word into search (top right} My email address is LaceyGreenHistoryWiki@gmail.com.