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132
DENTAL TREATMENT
(Maternity and Child Welfare)
F. ELSTON, L.D.S., R.C.S.Eng., the Chief Dental Officer,
reports :—
"Subsequent to two annual reports on the background and
urgent necessity of an effective dental service for the priority
classes, the report for 1967 used statistical evidence of local findings
to present the true picture.
In 1968 we were able to obtain a more detailed assessment by
extending the sample surveyed into greater numbers. The figures
for the age groups of 4-5 years and 5-6 years respectively, presented
as an appendix to my report on the school dental service, confirm
that the situation remains unaltered when viewed against the background
of larger numbers examined. As repeatedly stated dental
disease is largely preventable. Whilst this applies to all age groups,
both in children and adults, prevention is easiest in the young
child. As the child becomes more independent with age, parental
influence on dietary and hygienic habits decreases. In the young
child, however, preventive dental measures are far more under
parental control and the prevalence of dental disease is directly
proportionate to the active steps taken by parents in this direction.
It is therefore extremely important for all preventive information
to be placed at parents' disposal at the earliest possible stage.
With this in mind, steps were taken in 1968 to couple the child's
third birthday physical examination with an introductory dental
inspection in a surgery and a simultaneous interview with the
mother. This pioneer scheme was carried out in only one centre
in order to gather experience and information prior to expansion
into other centres in the Borough. Results have been most
encouraging and the case for expansion has been established.
The question of expansion is closely linked to the previously
discussed question of dental manpower at our disposal. The Maternity
and Child Welfare Act of 1918 asked local authorities to
provide medical care for nursing and expectant mothers and for
pre-school children. Dental care for these groups was to be
supplied by the staff dealing with the school children. This was
not obligatory, however, until Section 22 of the National Health
Service Act made it a duty of local authorities to arrange for the
care of the priority cases. Subsequently the Ministry of Health
laid down that a satisfactory service would be one that provided
for (a) the examination of every expectant and nursing mother and
(b) the periodical examination of all pre-school children seeking