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Dental Treatment—Expectant and Nursing Mothers and Children.
Mr. G. Tucker, L.D.S., R.C.S., Chief Dental Officer, reports as follows:
I would very much like to see many more young children under 5 years of age
attending the dental clinics. Unfortunately departmental medical officers and health
visitors can only refer young children who actually attend their clinics. Those parents
who do not bring their children to the child welfare centres can only be advised that
their children should be dentally examined. These children are not seen, therefore,
until a periodical school dental inspection takes place at their school. On average
approximately 17% of children have no dental decay at this time. However in this
age group each child has approximately 6 teeth decayed, filled or missing.
During 1966, 88 more young children and JO more expectant or nursing mothers
were examined than in the previous year.
Pre-School Children
Examined at clinic 439
Required treatment 221
Commenced treatment 226
Attended for treatment 625
Fillings inserted 473
Extractions 157
General Anaesthetics 80
Expectant and Nursing Mothers
Examined 110
Requiring treatment 100
Commenced treatment 85
Attended for treatment 271
Fillings inserted 223
Gum treatment 30
Crowns or Inlays fitted 2
Extractions 54
General Anaesthetics 12
Dentures supplied 10
X-rays taken 3
Deprived Children
In order that the health visitor can make her routine visits, when a deprived child
under five has moved to a new address, my colleague the Children's Officer, notifies the
health department.
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948
At 31st December, 1966, 54 child-minders were receiving children under the age
of five years and 29 private day nurseries (including one factory day nursery), were on
the register. These nurseries are regularly visited by a senior medical officer and a
health visitor.
The Barnes and Mortlake Day Nursery, a private nursery with 25 places, which
received a grant from the Council, closed on the 16th December, 1966 owing to staffing
difficulties.
Daily Minders
There were no daily minders receiving fees from the authority at the end of the
year.
Municipal Day Nurseries
There are in the Borough three day nurseries maintained by the Council for
necessitous children from the age of six weeks to five years of age.
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