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53
Expectant mothers examined for the first time numbered 278
against 348 last year. Of these, 80.6 per cent. were seen
during the first six months of pregnancy, compared with 81.6 per
cent. previously recorded. Those attending at later stages of
their confinements included some with pain or discomfort, which
might have been avoided had treatment been sought at an early
date.
There has been little change in the amount of work carried
out for nursing mothers. In some cases this resulted from late
reference from the Ante-Natal Department, which did not permit
of treatment until after the confinement; otherwise names were
received during the post-natal period.
25 nursing mothers were examined during the current year,
compared with 32 in 1957.
Treatment
Including those continuing treatment from the previous year,
393 mothers were dealt with, against 476 in 1957. A welcome
sign during recent years has been a decrease in the need for
wholesale removal of teeth and the large scale provision of
dentures. The current generation of expectant mothers also shows
an increased awareness of the need for retaining their natural
teeth. Certain of those attending volunteer the information
that they have visited the same clinic during their school days,
and have obviously benefited from treatment during this period.
The Pre-School child
The number of children referred from all sources during the
year was 353, compared with 481 in 1957. As previously, this
figure included a proportion of "Toddlers" due for re-inspection
and treatment.
Because of the freer diet available in post-war years more
decay is now being reported in the "under fives", and earlier
supervision is therefore more desirable than was previously the
case. Unfortunately, contact with these children has been
considerably hampered by the closure of the Day Nurseries, and
greater dependence has therefore to be placed on other outside
sources, such as Welfare Centres and Nursery classes at Primary
Schools.