View report page

35.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
ACT, 1946
SECTIONS 22, 23, 24 , 25. 20, 27, 28, 29, and 61.
Full details of the Council's Proposals approved by the Minister of Health, as Indicated In my
report for 1948, have been published In booklet form and are available for reference.
SECTION 22 - CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHIIDREN
DENTAL CARE.
Dr. Allan Ross, the Senior Dental Officer, submits the following reports on the dental treatment
provided for expectant and nursing mothers and pre-school children in 1958 and 1957:—
1956
"At the end of 1956, there were three dental officers and this continued to be the position throughout
1950. It was found quite Impossible to fill the establishment of four In spite of numerous advertisements.
The statistical pattern of 1950 was very similar to that of 1955 except that many more teeth were
conserved for children. This sort of work Is often difficult, but It Is well worth while as the chances
or future orthodontic treatment proving necessary are considerably reduced.
Generally speaking, most children are fundamentally good patients, but some parents almost go out
of their way to make their children nervous and apprehensive with regard to dental treatment. There Is
much talk of "nerves" and being dreadful patients themselves. With this as a background, the dentist
Is unlikely to establish an Ideal relationship with his young patient."
1957
"There was little change In the statistical pattern of the work done compared with the previous year.
However, fewer mothers and children were treated due to various reasons. In the formei case a gradually
Increasing number of mothers prefer to continue to receive treatment from their private practitioners.
This group had usually well cared for mouths. The dental officers were left with those mothers who seldom,
If ever, received dental treatment, had neglected mouths, were reluctant to receive conservative treatment,
urgently required scaling etc. by the Dental Hyglenlst, and often required numerous extractions and large
partial or full dentures.
Another group of mothers seen were those who were normally treated by private dentists but could not
afford the fee required for the provision of dentures. They were reluctant to obtain help from the
National Assistance Board and presented themselves at the Clinics sometimes already under treatment by
their private dentist. The dental officers employed by this Authority then found themselves In the embarasslng
position of treating other dentists' patients, a position which would not arise but for an apparent
anomoly In the Regulations. Briefly, expectant and nursing mothers can obtain free dentures at the
Authority's Clinics but not from dentists in the General Dental Service.
The number of children under five in this Borough Is gradually decreasing due to a falling birth rate,
emigration and' re-housing and this fact Is reflected In the statistics.
The recent huge Increases In the fees paid to private dentists for the conservation of deciduous teeth
may well result in an increasing number of these small children being treated outside the Clinics.
Numerous advertisements during the year for a fourth dental officer met with no response. About
two and a half years have now elapsed since an advertisement was answered, and at the end of the year the
prospect of filling the vacancy appeared remote."