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education of the mothers. This steady increase might be called a
'demand' for treatment. Dental treatment suggests to the mothers
the necessity for improvement in her general health; the clinic is
organised to include advice on prophylaxis, which advice forms a
working basis for a well-regulated life. The focussing of attention
on the almost forgotten function of the teeth and how that function
may be maintained unimpaired is gaining ground.
"Since the period of dental benefit for the provision of dentures
under the Council's scheme is limited to pregnancy and nursing it
is not possible, under the present scheme, to follow up the cases.
It is imperative that the patient should be under treatment at the
earliest stage to ensure the best results. When extensive extractions
are required the delay in applying for treatment militates against
the fitting of dentures as early as might be desired. It is to be
deplored that, during some period of pregnancy, the patient may
have a partially or wholly edentulous mouth and be unable, for some
considerable time, to masticate her food; apart from the loss of
pleasure in enjoying a meal. Thus it follows, since few of the patients
can afford the extra cost of having dentures remodelled, there must
be a period of waiting between the extraction of the teeth and the
construction of dentures. This cannot be avoided.
"Few of the patients are free from some infection of the mucous
membrane of the mouth.
"Mothers suffering from periodontal disease should be under
treatment during both pregnancy and nursing. During the latter
period, the mother, with her many household duties, is inclined,
unless suffering pain, to neglect her own treatment. It is difficult
to insist on the continuation of treatment after the birth of the child.
The patients do not fully understand that repeated visits are
necessary to clear up long-standing septic conditions, whereas they
never fail to return for the fitting of dentures. It has been possible
in the special maternity sessions to set apart time for the treatment
of these obstinate conditions and with the co-operation of the
patient success is obtained in the most advanced cases."
(c) Tonsils and Adenoids.—Seven cases were operated on
under the arrangement made by the Education Committee with the
Connaught Hospital.
(d) Ophthalmic Defects and Minor Ailments.—Children
are given treatment either at the School Clinics or by special
appointment.
(e) Sunlight.—Four infants were referred for sunlight treatment
(luring 1936. There was definite improvement recorded in
two of the cases.