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178
The increased number of reparative treatments both for expectant
and nursing mothers has resulted in a decrease in the number
of dentures inserted, which totalled 101 as compared with 138 in
the previous year.
The percentage of nursing mothers when first seen and the age
of the baby is as follows:—
Age of child. 1—3. 4—6. 7-9. 9-12 months.
% mothers seen in 1935 38 42 23 7
1936 35 35 20 10
It will be observed that the majority of mothers were treated
during the early nursing period. Many of these women were
referred during the time of pregnancy, but owing to the number of
cases awaiting treatment they could not be called up earlier. It
lias been the practice when mothers are referred late in the nursing
period to give them emergency treatment only. Some mothers
delay seeking dental advice until the nursing period is well
advanced, and it is uneconomical to undertake extensive treatments
tor them which could only be done at the expense of time which
should be devoted to the more pressing claims of the expectant
mother.
The Pre-School Child.
The number of young children examined was 274, which was
67 more than in 1935. Fillings inserted totalled 121 as against 90
in the previous year. While curative treatments have shown an
improvement in number, it is regrettable that extractions of teeth
should once again also show an increase.
It is very unfortunate that often before all the teeth have fully
erupted some have to be extracted in consequence of pain and sepsis,
even at the early age of 18 months. Such a poor state of the child's
teeth is much to be deplored, but perhaps it must be expected while
so many mothers continue to feed their children on"pap" food.
Many mothers appear still unaware that with the eruption of teeth
food of a harder nature should be given, so that natural cleansing
of the teeth may take place. It is an undoubted fact that children's
teeth will continue to decay at the present rapid rate if the diet
remains to a great extent non-detergent. It would be impossible,
and perhaps in some respects undesirable, to attempt to revolutionise
the dietetic habits of young children, but parents, with