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DENTAL SERVICE (MATERNITY AND CHILD HEALTH)
Mrs. B. Fox, B.D.S.—Chief Dental Officer
Examination of school entrants suggests that many more young children would benefit
from dental care before they reach school age, than at present receive it. Parents may not be aware
that pre-school children are eligible for treatment under the priority services. Efforts have been
made to inform them of the services which exist in the Borough.
The numbers of pre-school children examined and offered treatment has increased but the
type of treatment given is often of a preventive nature, e.g. topical fluoride applications to the teeth.
At Cavendish Pavilion, a child health centre where there is no dental surgery, a dental surgeon
has visited once a month to examine children attending toddler clinics and to give advice to
mothers if requested. Arrangements were made to extend this service to Ruislip Gardens clinic
in the Autumn.
The services of two anaesthetists have been secured and regular general anaesthetic sessions
have been established throughout the Borough. Many young children who were previously
referred to the hospital service for extractions under a general anaesthetic, are now treated within
the local authority service.
Children on the observation register who may be "at risk" with dental disease or who, because
of some physical reason may find difficulty in accepting dental treatment are invited to begin
regular dental inspections after their third birthday. In this way, it is hoped to give preventive dental
treatment and dietary advice preventing extraction of teeth, which often requires lengthy visits to
hospital in these children. Arrangements have been made to examine handicapped children who
attend a playgroup, if the parents wish. This should reduce the amount of travelling, which parents
find difficult. Routine dental treatment is provided in the Borough by dental surgeons experienced
in working with handicapped children.
Children attending day nurseries are similarly examined at the nursery, and may be brought
to the clinic for treatment by nursery staff. This is particularly helpful for single working parents.
During the latter half of the year regular contact has been maintained with many health
visitors conducting ante natal relaxation classes. A number of talks on dental health have been
given to expectant mothers. Guidance has been offered on their own dental health, the establishment
of sensible dietary habits and the restriction of sugar intake for young children.
The number of expectant and nursing mothers seen by the priority service has risen but the
majority still attend general dental practitioners. This is encouraged so that regular attendance
for treatment is maintained after the period of entitlement to treatment under the priority services.
Dental statistics are recorded on page 123.
HOME DIALYSIS
Under the provisions of Section 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946, local health
authorities are empowered to make any arrangements necessary for the installation of equipment
for intermittent haemodialysis and during 1971 requests for assistance in installing artificial kidney
machines in their home were received from a further three Borough residents who had developed
renal failure. During the year, also, the Council resolved no longer to make any assessment of
patients financial means but to provide any necessary adaptations or provision of other facilities
free of charge.
The assistance given to two of the new patients during 1971 consisted in the provision of
portable Portakabin units as the existing accommodation did not lend itself to suitable adaptations
being carried out. In the third case, a house owner, neither adaptations nor the provision of a
portable unit proved to be possible so, with the consent of the Housing Commitee, the patient
was rehoused in Council accommodation having sold his house to the former tenant of the
Council house.
There are now seven persons living within the Borough who received assistance from the
Council when artificial kidney machines were installed. In four cases, room adaptations were
possible while in the remaining three cases, portable units of accommodation had to be provided.
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