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91
Other Services.
On Saturday mornings we hold a session for Maternity
and Child Welfare cases. During 1932, 30 mothers
and 76 children under school age attended for treatment.
The dental condition of these expectant and nursing
mothers is usually very bad indeed. They are referred
by the Medical Officer from the Ante-Natal Clinic or
the Welfare Centres, and I generally find that this is
their first visit to a dentist. On examining the mouth
it usually takes me a very short time indeed to realise
that the only possible course of treatment is to clean
up the mouth as well as possible and then by degrees
extract all or nearly all the teeth.
As regards the very young children, dental disease
seems very prevalent. These cases are, of course,
referred to the Dental Clinic by the Medical Officers at
the Welfare Centres, so that all I see are definitely in
need of treatment, but it does seem appalling when one
has to extract, say, four teeth from a child of two in
order to relieve pain and swelling.
Conclusion.
Lastly, I must again express my appreciation of
the assistance given me by the Committee and the Staff.
I also wish to thank the Head Teachers of the various
schools for their help and continued interest in the
dental work, for I know how great their influence on
the children can be. Last, but not least, I would
especially thank the voluntary workers for the time they
have given to the Dental Clinic, it would at times be
almost impossible to carry on were it not for their help.
T. S. Latham, School Dental Surgeon.
After Care.
The following up of the ailing child and the providing
of extra nourishment, convalescence, boots, etc.,
tor the necessitous patients, is in the very capable hands
of Miss E. Carter, the Hon. Secretary of the Bromley
Children's Care Committee, whose report for 1932