View report page

50
This clinic is held once a week. During 1936 there was
an increase in the number of mothers availing themselves of
dental treatment; but unfortunately when the majority
of them attended their mouths were in such an appallingly
septic condition that total extraction was the only possible
treatment to put their mouths into a healthy condition. As
a result of this sepsis, the number of extracted teeth has
increased from 177 to 512. The number of general anaesthetics
has been nearly doubled, and local anaesthetics are more than
double those administered in 1936.
The marked tendency to dental caries during pregnancy
is well known, but instead of taking extra care of their teeth
during this period a large proportion of patients allow their
teeth to decay until they have pain, and extraction is the
only remedy. Also there was very little co-operation on the
part of mothers in regard to conservative treatment. The
denture work shows a definite increase, and the list of patients
requiring dentures is growing rapidly and more time may be
needed to cope with this work. Instruction is given in
oral hygiene wherever improvement is possible. Mothers are
encouraged to bring their children for regular inspection, even
if no treatment is required.
Muriel Barnby, L.D.S.,
Dental Surgeon.
Mr. Bate furnishes me with the following statistics
:—
Sessions held, 98, of which 18 were Gas Sessions.
Children attending routine inspections, 66, of whom 44 were
found to require treatment 38 of these children were
treated, the remaining 6 being under treatment at the
end of the year.
Children referred by Medical Officers and Health Visitors
136, 112 of them requiring treatment and making 313
subsequent attendances.
In view of the continued disappointing response to the
circular to parents inviting them to bring their children for
dental inspection, a new combined propaganda card and
prepaid reply card has been devised whereby parents can
apply for a special appointment with the Dental Surgeon.
These cards are sent out to a number of parents of toddlers
every week, as well as being issued through the Public Libraries.
The new method has not so far been any more successful
than the old, only 70 cards being returned during the year,
and it will probably be necessary to take more energetic
measures to arouse parents to a sense of the urgent need for
greater care of the teeth of toddlers.