Twelve-Year Retrospective Survey of Purpose of Dental Visit by 0-1 Year-old Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the purpose of a visit to a private pedodontic clinic of patients aged 0 to 1 year. A survey was performed of 464 infant patients who visited during the past 12 -year period. The purpose of the visit and related matters were surveyed using proprietary questionnaires. Correlations among the obtained data were statistically analyzed, and the following results obtained.

1.For age at the initial visit, 16-19 months in females and 12-15 months in males were predominant.

2.The number of males significantly increased from the age category of 4-7 months to 12-15 months,while the number of females significantly increased from the age category of 8-11 months to 12-15 months.

3.As for the purpose of the visit, dental caries was most frequent at 35%, followed by oral examination and prophylaxis at 32%, and injury at 15%.

4.As for the ratio of purpose by age category, dental caries was highest in the 12-15 month old period, oral examination/prophylaxis was highest in the 16-19 month old period, and injury was high est in the 8-11 month old period.

5.The number of sibling-existent patients was significantly greater than that of no sibling-existent among those who visited for dental caries and oral examination/prophylaxis.

6.As for the age difference of an existent sibling, under 3 years was answered most often for dental caries, while the ratio of under 2 years to under 1 year was significantly different for injury.

The results of this 12-year retrospective survey revealed variations in regard to the purpose of a dental visit by 0- to 1-year-old children, even among those of the same age. In addition, they suggest that existence of a sibling and age difference of the sibling are influential factors.