View report page

51
DENTAL TREATMENT (MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE)
I am indebted to the Principal Dental Officer, P. G. Oliver,
Esq., L. D. S., for the following report:-
Expectant and nursing mothers requiring dental treatment are
referred by Medical Officers attending Ante- and Post-Natal
Clinics. In the case of children under school age introduction
is effected through Infant Welfare Centres and similar institutions.
A substantial number of applications is also made direct
to the Dental Clinics themselves, or as a result of requests
from Health Visitors. Treatment for patients in all categories
is carried out at School Dental Clinics and is closely linked
with work on the Education side.
Among the many benefits conferred by the establishment of a
National Health Service, has been the increased availability of
free dental treatment for the priority classes in the General
Practitioners' Service. This has led to a very substantial reduction
in the amount of work carried out in Local Authority
Clinics. Though during recent years there have been minor
fluctuations in the demand, this preference for private treatment
seems to be firmly established and is likely to remain a
permanent feature. Apart from the question of finance, the
wider areas served by Regional Hospital Boards mean that many
patients using local Maternity Clinics reside at an appreciable
distance and therefore prefer to seek dental attention near
their homes. Though some may deplore the reduced patronage of
the Authorities' Dental Clinics, there is little doubt that
whereas in pre-war days maximum efficiency tended to be jeopardised
by the overwhelming demand for attention, fuller opportunities
now exist to increase the scope of individual treatment and
for guaranteeing the necessary priority in urgent cases.
In addition to meeting actual needs for treatment, it is
also the duty of Local Authority Services to ensure that adequate
facilities are available for dental inspection of mothers
in the early months of pregnancy; by this means individual
requirements can be readily assessed, and the necessity for
maintaining the health of the mouth during this important period
can be explained to patients.
"First attenders" at Ante-Natal Clinics are urged by the
doctor to obtain the requisite oral examination, either by
reference to the adjacent Dental Department in the Clinic or at
the hands of their own dentist; in cases of abnormal delay in