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28
" Mothers.—The number of mothers receiving dental treatment
continues to increase. During the year 544 mothers were treated
compared with 355 in 1936. This increase is mainly due to those
who have moved to the new London County Council Housing
Estate at Hanwell, many of whom have been found to require
extensive dental treatment. It is gratifying to note, however,
that the majority have been quick to respond to the advice given
by the medical officers.
The treatment given was, as usual, mostly of a radical nature,
as the mothers cannot be subjected to prolonged drilling of a tooth
in an effort to save it. Many mouths were rendered healthy by
scaling and treatment of the gums and where there was a loss of
masticatory power full or partial dentures were fitted.
Fillings were inserted in 281 teeth, an increase of 152 over the
preceding year. Teeth extracted numbered 2,763, a slight increase
over the preceding year. Most of the extractions were performed
under nitrous oxide and oxygen. Dentures were supplied to
222 mothers, an increase of 93 over the preceding year, and gum
treatments were given to 64. The total number of visits made by
mothers to receive dental treatment was 2,302.
" Children of Pre-school Age.—The number of children under
five years of age receiving dental treatment was 458, an increase
of 96 over the preceding year. It is a notable fact that the mothers
who have received dental treatment for themselves at the centres
have shown an interest in their children's teeth and have asked
for dental appointments for their children. The number of
extractions was 1,484, an increase of 430. All multiple extractions
were performed under nitrous oxide and oxygen and only in cases
where a single tooth required extraction was a local anaesthetic
used. The number of fillings inserted was 146. It is not easy
to perform fillings on small children because of the difficulty
experienced in opening their mouths and maintaining a dry field
of operation. Advice in relation to erupting and non-erupting teeth
and other conditions in the mouth was given to 23 mothers.
Altogether 875 attendances were made at the centres by children
to receive treatment."