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44
DENTAL TREATMENT (MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE)
I am indebted to the Principal Dental Officer, Mr. P.G.
Oliver, for the following report:-
Expectant and nursing mothers requiring dental treatment are
referred by Medical Officers attending Municipal Ante- and PostNatal
Clinics. In the case of children below school age reference
comes chiefly from Infant Welfare Centres or through personal
initiative of Health Visitors; a reduced number of applications
continue to be received from Day Nurseries and similar institutions
still in operation.
The past year has seen a noticeable reawakening of interest
in the above Service, particularly with regard to the supervision
of expectant and nursing mothers. This increased patronage
has extended to almost all clinics and is most pronounced in the
New Addington area.
The improved liaison between the Dental Clinics and AnteNatal
Centres in the matter of referring mothers has played a
considerable part in bringing to patients' notice the range of
dental care available in the Local Authority's Service, and the
importance of an accurate assessment of dental requirements being
made during the early months of pregnancy.
Though less spectacular, an increase is also recorded in the
number of pre-school children referred by Medical and Dental
Officers, Health Visitors and other social workers. In view of
the further curtailment of Day Nurseries, these alternative
forms of publicity represent a valuable link with this special
age group.
It is perhaps regrettable that little has again been possible
in the way of regular visits by Dentists to Welfare Centres;
however, as available sessions have been fully occupied on the
treatment side, it has been felt that activities of this kind
must await an easing of the staffing situation.
The principal item of interest of the year has been the
opening of the new Dental Centre at Stroud Green, details of
which were provided in a previous Report. Besides the normal
service for school children this building has been designed with
a view to providing more comprehensive facilities for expectant
mothers and pre-school children, with special emphasis on the
preventive side of this work. When staffing arrangements are
complete, practical demonstrations on the correct method of