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92
A welcome increase is again noted in the numbers of preschool
children referred for treatment; special reference is made
to conditions found among the above at a later stage of this
report.
Expectant Mothers.
Expectant mothers examined during the year numbered 658
compared with 733 last year, and represented 90.6 per cent. of the
total number of new cases referred. Of the above, 85 per cent:.
presented themselves during the first six months of pregnancy.
The remainder, seen during a later stage, included some
who failed to keep earlier appointments or had "declined"
dental treatment when this was previously advised in the AnteNatal
Clinic.
Nursing Mothers.
New cases referred were 107 compared with 100 last year.
Those seen during the first six months after their confinement
constituted 81 per cent. of the total number referred, compared
with 74 per cent last year. A minority with infants between seven
and twelve months were referred from Post-natal Clinics and
Welfare Centres for emergency treatment.
In addition to mothers attending for the first time, a substantial
amount of treatment was completed for those. referred
before their confinements in the previous year.
Treatment.
Including those continuing treatment from the previous year,
the total of mothers treated was 908, compared with 919 in 1946.
Once treatment has been begun clinics are well attended, and
most patients appear to take a keen interest in the service. As
in previous years a substantial amount of conservative work was
performed. In many mouths wholesale removal of teeth is, unfortunately,
the only remedy. Dentures inserted numbered 264
against 260 last year.
One less satisfactory feature of the scheme is that 23 per cent,
of those referred failed to keep appointments for their dental
inspection to be carried out. Attempts at following up such cases
have in the main been singularly unsuccessful, but it is hoped
that continued propaganda by Medical Officers and Midwives
will in time assist in bringing home to prospective mothers the
importance of such measures and in reducing absenteeism to
more reasonable dimensions.