Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of patients and to elucidate the effects of dysphagia rehabilitation in the University Hospital Dental Center. The clinical-statistical analysis was performed on 104 patients who visited an oral rehabilitation clinic for dysphagia rehabilitation from April 2007 to September 2008.
Dysphagia was mostly observed in the elderly, and was caused by head and neck cancer and cerebral vascular accident, and the oral and pharyngeal stage was often disordered. 70% of patients needed swallowing therapy and professional oral health care, while prosthodontic treatment was needed by 30% of patients. The level on the dysphagia severity scale (DSS) and the diet status were significantly improved by the intervention (p<0.001). Especially, level 2,3, and 5 on the DSS was improved prominently. DSS 1-4 (level with aspiration) accounted for 71%, and was decreased to 45% after the intervention. NPO (nothing per OS) accounted for 42%, and was decreased to 21% after the intervention. At the start of intervention, the coefficient of correlation between DSS and the diet status was 0.52 (p<0.001) . However, the coefficient of correlation was 0.76 at the end of the intervention, suggesting that the discrepancy between DSS and the diet status was reduced. The result of logistic regression analysis suggested that direct therapy had a positive impact on the improvement of the DSS and diet status (p<0.01) .
To start direct therapy, the oral health and function must be improved. Our results suggested that the most effect therapy was dysphagia rehabilitation in a dental clinic with oral health care, prosthodontic treatment and long-term follow up.
