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DENTAL TREATMENT FOR EXPECTANT AND NURSING MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
(By Mr.J®H.Glen, L.D.S., Senior Dental Officer)
Until the end of July 1948 the service was conducted as in previous years by Mrs®
Rogers. At that time she resigned to start her own private practice. From August to
December of that year, an attempt was made to carry on the service using two members of the
School Dental Staff. Whenever possible a dentist was present in the clinic during the times
of attendance of the medical officer engaged in examining expectant mothers, and all new
cases seeking medical advice were automatically referred to the dental officer for his
inspection. The mother was advised of the work required to be done, and it remained her
choice whether the treatment was proceeded with at the clinic or by her own private dentist.
For those accepting treatment at the clinic, a full service including X-rays and cast
metal work (such as inlays and small dentures) was provided. No difference was made in the
provision of treatment for nursing or expectant mothers. As no additional staff became
available, it was found impossible to implement the requirements of the National Health
Service Act relating to children under five years of age, and generally, only those children
whose mothers were attending welfare clinics were treated.
It was not thought necessary for record purposes, to keep separate the treatment
done for nursing and expectant mothers® In consequence the two classes of patient are treated
as one in the following statistical table.
No matter how desirable clinical research and dental health education may be, it is
obvious that under the present ''make do and mend'' existence of this supposedly priority
service, that such research as was In progress on July 5th 1948, has had to be abandoned.
Mothers
Total attendances 2 ,171
Attended for extraction 557
No® of teeth extracted 2,111
Attendances for fillings 191
No® of teeth filled 236
New cases seen 558
No® on waiting list 106
No® of attendances for dentures 677
No® of dentures supplied 206
No® of patients supplied with dentures 154
No® of attendances for scaling 218
No® of attendances for inspection 609
Children
Total attendances 1,430
Attended for extraction 389
No® of teeth extracted 993
Attendances for fillings 359
No. of teeth filled 414
New cases seen 358
No® on waiting list 13
No® of attendances for dentures
No® of dentures supplied
No® of patients supplied with dentures -
No® of attendances for scaling 19
No® of attendances for inspection 690
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