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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 June 30th 1949, it was possible with the help of Mr. Hendry who worked for
four day-time sessions at Maybury Road Clinic, together with the eight evening sessions
worked at West Ham Lane, to provide as extensive a service as had been obtained prior to
July, 1948. Unfortunately, Ill-health and a rapidly expanding private practice, caused
the resignation of Mr.Hendry after a very brief term of office.
Later in the year, Mr.McNamara resigned to go into a private practice* In consequence,
from July until the end of the year, the number of sessions available for the
treatment of nursing and expectant mothers was reduced to four evening sessions held at
West Ham Lane, together with one session worked by Mrs.Rogers at the Forest Street Clinic,
on Thursday mornings. Because of the obvious disadvantage of evening sessions for children
under five years of age, the two assistant school dental officers agreed to treat these
children during their normal school time sessions.
The demand made by the mothers on these four evening sessions, became so great that
an approach was made to the General Service Dentists through the Local Dental Committee,
for their support in the treatment of those mothers who required a number of fillings and
prophylatic treatment. Their agreement to the arrangements suggested, meant that those cases
which would take up the longest operating time were thereby referred, and the denture cases,
the work for whom required substantially less surgery time per visit were retained. In this
way the greatest number of patients could be treated in the very limited number of sessions
available, and the principle of dentally examining each of the new cases attending the antenatal
clinics was maintained.
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