Role of the Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation & Community Dental Care at Tokyo Dental College

Abstract

Tokyo Dental College established the Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation & Community Dental Care in 2008. Dysphagia is caused by various diseases: A major disease is CVA. On the other hand, we have had oral cancer patients in our hospital and most of them have experienced trouble with dysphagia. Dysphagia rehabilitation for postoperative oral cancer patients is one of our main tasks. The essential points for their rehabilitation are 1.) Preventing aspiration pneumonia, 2.) Nutrition, and 3.) Mental support. This manuscript summarizes our main work.