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48
tion of the waiting period for attention; if, therefore, for
any reason those attending at private practitioners' surgeries
are unable to obtain a reasonable priority, speedy arrangements
can now be made for Corporation Staff to carry out the work.
Though the number of pre-school children referred continue
to be influenced adversely by the closure of the Day Nurseries,
a substantial amount of conservation for the "baby teeth" has
been carried out, and this attention is well appreciated hy the
more discerning parent, particularly as there is still a disinclination
on the part of many outside practitioners to undertake
this type of treatment.
As staffing permits, it is hoped that more active measures
can be taken to further expand this side of the Service, which
has such an important bearing on the dental care of the school
population.
As on the Education side, coverage for the Borough as a
whole is reasonably adequate, but pressure of work continues to
be greatest at New Addington where plans for providing additional
facilities have experienced recurrent setbacks. An explanation
of existing difficulties will be found in the School Dental
Report.
Renovations and re-equipping of less modern clinics are
continuing, with the object of providing a higher standard of
working conditions for Staff and thus encouraging the intake of
dentists into the Service.
Expectant and Nursing Mothers
The total number of expectant and nursing mothers referred
from all sources was 464, compared with 491 in 1956. As was the
case in the previous year the greater proportion of these were
sent from the Ante-Natal Clinic; those from the Municipal Midwives'
Service were again reduced in number. Fewer cases were
referred from Welfare Centres. Despite shortage of staff,
almost all those applying for treatment received an initial
appointment to attend the Dental Clinic. The percentage of
mothers failing to attend for their dental examination was
rather higher than in the previous year, namely 28 per cent.
against 23 per cent. in 1956.
Expectant mothers examined for the first time number 348
against 324 last year. Of these, 81.6 per cent. were seen
during the first six months of pregnancy, compared with 72.5 per