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46
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 treatment and 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.
No special innovations can be reported in arrangements for
those referred from Ante and Post-Natal Clinics, and apart from
isolated holiday periods, sessions at present allowed for this
work have been found to be reasonably adequate. During recent
years the volume of patients has remained remarkably constant
and it would appear that a position of equilibrium has now been
reached in relation to the public demand, which may well continue
for an indefinite period.
In meeting the dental requirements of the expectant mothers
the optimum period is that period between the fourth and seventh
month, as this allows for more comprehensive measures than
during the later stages of pregnancy. With respect to those in
the last category the position has progressively improved since
the early years, and the fact that nowadays some three-quarters
of those examined are seen before the sixth month is ample tribute
to the system now in operation. In spite of this achievement
absenteeism among those in receipt of appointments for the
initial dental examination, continues to be substantial, and can
on occasion result in an appreciable loss of surgery time.
To meet this situation "follow-up" measures have been instituted,
in the shape of a mild reproof, when such patients are
due for the next A.N.C. visit. Whilst such tactics have produced
only a limited response, the routine will be continued on the
score that further exhortations from the doctor can lead to
alternative advice being sought.
Though there appears to be a genuine appreciation by parents
of the work carried out for pre-school children at clinics, the
position continues to be somewhat "static" and it is felt that a
further expansion of this service should be possible, provided
means could be found for reaching potential untapped sources.
Unfortunately the decline in the number of Day Nurseries has
sadly reduced the routine supervision of the younger age groups,
without any compensating increase in the development of the
Nursery School on the Education side.