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A welcome increase is again noted in the number of preschool
children attending; reference to which will he found later
in this report.
Expectant Mothers.
New cases examined during the year numbered 6.57 compared
with 602 last year, and represented 92 per cent, of the total
number of mothers seen for the first time. Of the above, 82 per
cent, presented themselves during the first six months of
pregnancy. The remaining 18 per cent, seen during a later
stage included some who had either failed earlier appointments
or "declined" dental treatment when this was previously advised
in the Ante-Natal Clinic.
Nursing Mothers.
Owing to the greater number receiving their treatment antenataly,
the proportion of mothers first inspected during the
nursing period has declined considerably during recent years.
New cases referred were 56 compared with 44 last year.
Those seen during the first six months after their confinement
constituted 70 per cent, of the total number referred, compared
with 79 per cent, last year. The remainder with infants between
seven and twelve months, referred in the majoritv of cases from
Welfare Centres, received mostlv emergencv treatment.
In addition to mothers attending for the first time, a large
amount of treatment was also completed for those referred before
their confinements in the previous vear.
Treatment.
Including those continuing treatment from the previous
year, the total of expectant and nursing mothers treated was 812,
compared with 776 in 1944.
As before, a substantial amount of treatment has been of a
conservative nature. 225 dentures were inserted, compared with
282 last year.
Absenteeism among mothers in receipt of appointments for
examination dropped from approximately 20 per cent, to 14.fi
per cent, during the current year. While this result is encouraging,
attempts to follow up such cases have been singularly
unsuccessful. Though a small minority attend at a later date