Abstract
We conducted a questionnaire survey on the treatment of elderly patients among the member dentists of the Japan Health Care Dental Association who actively provide longterm periodic maintenance-oriented dental practice. The results showed that although routine practice was linked to understanding and recording changes due to aging of patients, it was difficult to say that the practice was able to respond properly to changes in patients. Furthermore, a comparison of the two groups of dentists, those who made routine home visits and those who did not, revealed that home-care dentists were more likely to be able to detect changes associated with the aging of their patients at the level of daily living, and were also more likely to respond promptly when support was needed in the lives of elderly patients. The results of the questionnaire suggest that it is important to establish a streamlined care system in the clinic in collaboration with the local community so that patients can receive support when needed.
