2019 Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 19-26
Since 2012, to promote the medical-dentistry cooperation programs in the cancer treatment, many cooperative cancer dentists were registered in Japan. But practical oral management before the cancer treatment was confined to in-hospital dentists, and cooperation between local dental clinics and oncologists was not common. Therefore, we started developing a medical cooperation model which preceded the cancer treatment in that the oral management is done at a patient's local dental clinic by request from the hospital oncologists.
At the beginning, we performed the first stage cooperation trial for twelve patients before operation. Subsequently, we performed the second stage cooperation trial for twenty-five patients before the dosage of bone modifying agents or anti-cancer agents. In the second stage trial, to obtain understanding of the need of the dentistry consultation, dental hygienists performed orientation.
To evaluate this system, we performed questionnaire survey for the medical doctor, the dentists who received patients, and the patients. This survey revealed high patient satisfaction and stability of our system.
In conclusion, we succeeded to construct the stable medical-dentistry cooperation system throughout two terms of trial.
