Abstract
The data concerning newly registered outpatients at the Nippon Dental University Hospital for 1984 were compared with similar data for 1994. The following results were obtained. 1. The number of outpatients registered in 1994 was 4,374, which was 41% greater than the number of patients registered in 1984 (3,097 patients). 2. In both years, patients between 20 and 29 years of age accounted for the highest percentage among all patients registered. The percentage of patients between 30 and 39 years of age did not differ from the percentage of patients between 40 and 49 years of age. 3. There were more females than males. 4. The most frequent complaint of newly registered outpatients was pain. 5. The most frequent dental disease found in the newly registered patients was hard tissue disease such as caries. As the age of patients advanced, periodontal disease or tooth defects tended to increase. 6. The number of patients who complained of abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint was greater in 1994 than in 1984. This tendency was particularly marked in females. 7. The percentage of patients who had had anxiety or fear about receiveing dental treatment was 31% in 1984 versus 29% for 1994. This was the first time this figure was lower than 30%. 8. When we analyzed the incidence of systemic disease in patients presenting with dental disease, gastrointestial disease had the highest incidence, followed by cardiac disase, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension), and then infection.
