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(6) Dental Care of Mothers and Young Children.
Attention is focussed on the importance of the care of the
teeth in the ante-natal period. At this time the mother's teeth
are particularly liable to decay, and reference of all expectant
mothers for dental supervision is necessary throughout pregnancy.
The dental service for mothers and young children is undertaken
by co-operation with the school health service, four dental units
being established, one at each of the welfare centres. The growth
in recent years of the number of young children requiring conservative
treatment and the increasing use made of this service raises the
question of the adequacy in the number of dental officers appointed
to deal with these priority classes in this area.
The number of expectant mothers found to require dental
treatment during the year was 821. A further 69 nursing mothers
received treatment.
The number of children under the age of five years referred from
infant welfare centres and nurseries was 221.
The main classes of treatment undertaken were as follows:—
Extractions (expectant and nursing mothers) 1,216
Extractions (children under five) 199
Fillings (expectant and nursing mothers) 1,017
Fillings (children under five) 126
Scalings—number of 310
Artificial dentures supplied to mothers 116
(7) Nursery Provision.
Three day nurseries are provided, accommodating 140 children
whose mothers are working. The majority of mothers whose children
have been accepted have no financial support except their earnings.
All who have seen the work carried out in these nurseries
cannot fail to be impressed by the measures taken to ensure the
happy, healthy routine of meals, play, cleanliness and rest, which
takes up so much of the child's day.