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49
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.
19 nursing mothers were examined during the current year,
compared with 25 in 1959.
Treatment
Including those continuing treatment from the previous year,
295 mothers were dealt with, against 369 in 1959. 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 368, compared with 359 in 1959. As previously, this
figure included a proportion of "toddlers" due for re-inspection
and treatment.
As demonstrated among the school population, the added sugar
consumption of post war years has also been responsible for an
appreciable increase in decay in the mouths of the "under fives,"
early supervision of these youngsters is therefore becoming of
even greater importance. Though cases of deliberate neglect are
on the wane, the increase in part and full time employment by
mothers has tended to reduce the proportion of the younger
children attending for routine "check-up" at dental clinics, and
there is as yet no evidence that this service is obtained elsewhere.
New and more positive methods of approach will be required
to deal with this increasing social problem.
The usual tables are given in the Appendix, page 113.