Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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appointment is received their enthusiasm naturally wanes. This
is an undesirable state of affairs and is yet another argument for
an increase in the staff of dental surgeons.
There is often some reluctance on the part of mothers to dental
treatment during the later months of pregnancy.
Age of baby when mother was first seen: —
1-3 months. | 4-6 months. | 7-9 months. | Over 9 months. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
% Mothers seen 1932 | 35.7 | 36.2 | 18.3 | 9.8 | |
„ „ 1933 | 38.7 | 32.0 | 18.6 | 10.7 | |
„ „ 1934 | 45.0 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 6.0 |
These figures show that more mothers were seen immediately
after their babies were born than in previous years. The majority
of these had been referred for treatment prior to confinement.
Only 6% of cases were treated during the latter months of
the nursing period. These were chiefly emergency cases, and,
in view of the fact that mothers who cease to nurse their babies
are ineligible for treatment, only work for the relief of pain was
undertaken.
The Pre-School Child.
The number of toddlers examined was more than in 1933.
The number of extractions, unfortunately, has increased, and
there is a reduction in the amount of conservative work, due to
the fact that many mothers mistakenly wait for an indication of
pain before they bring their young children for treatment. These
results suggest that more propaganda is needed at the Centres
to educate the mothers in matters of dental hygiene.
The Centres at which patients were examined, or from which they were referred, are given in the following list: —
1933. | 1934. | 1933. | 1934. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ante-Natal | 146 | 275 | Post-Natal | — | 14 |
Addiscombe (East) | 29 | 48 | St. Alban's | 51 | 48 |
Municipal | 50 | 64 | Sylverdale Road | 23 | 51 |
Shirley | 4 | 7 | Waddon | 23 | 44 |
Norbury | 10 | 18 | West Croydon | 12 | 32 |
Upper Norwood | 25 | 19 | Boston Road | 23 | 32 |
Moffat Road | 31 | 13 | St. Jude's | 19 | 20 |
South Croydon | 24 | 44 | The Retreat | 5 | 6 |
Woodside | 31 | 37 | Milton House | 4 | 8 |
South Norwood | 48 | 69 | Nursery School | — | 12 |
St. Oswald's | 10 | 9 |