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Priority Dental Service for Mothers and Young Children
9% of the dental officers' time was devoted to the priority classes.
Although the number of expectant and nursing mothers inspected and treated
remained constant, there was an increase of 143 fillings and a decrease of 157 extractions,
and in consequence, eleven fewer dentures were fitted. The ratio of 2.5 fillings
to one extraction was achieved.
563 children under five were inspected, including 59 examinations at day nurseries.
The number of fillings inserted was 1,206, the highest since 1955, but, unfortunately,
the number of extractions remained unaltered. For every child treated there were 3.6
conservations (fillings and silver nitrate treatments) and 0.6 extractions. This means
that the ratio of conservations to extractions was 6:1. In spite of this high proportion,
it was found necessary to supply four partial dentures.
It is in the early years that a child can derive most benefit from Dental Health
Education. The dental auxiliary who was appointed in September has been trained in this
field of work, and has made a start in giving group talks at welfare centres, so far at
ante-natal clinics, and to the mothers of toddlers. Of course, advice has always been
given to individual mothers, when they and their children attend the dental clinics.
The following table gives details of attendances made:-