2018 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 72-76
Since the launch of the Dental Implant Clinic in the Dental Hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 1995, we have conducted a periodic retrospective study of new patients every five years to investigate the trend among new patients and the reasons behind it. The total number of new patients, gender distribution, age distribution and reasons for their visit were studied at five-year intervals from April 1996 to March 2017.
The number of new patients increased from 275 in 1996 to 1643 in 2011, but decreased to 1164 in 2016. The male : female ratio was 1 : 2 almost every year. The peak of new patients' age changed gradually from 40s and 50s in 1996 to 60s in 2011, but that in 2016 was the same as in 2011. About 80% of the reason for visit was the request for dental implant treatment. The number of patients who had complaints about implant treatments at other clinics increased from that in 1996 to 2011, although in 2016, it was almost the same as in 2011.
Furthermore, the number of dental implant surgeries between 2001 and 2016 was proportional to that of new patients who requested dental implant treatment. On the other hand, the number of other surgeries related to dental implants increased every year. The total number of surgeries in 2016 was almost the same as in 2011.
