2018 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 12-18
A clinic for treating dysphagia disorders in children was established as part of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Kagoshima University Hospital in July 2010. We evaluated the state of dysphagia in all patients at the time of their first visit to the clinic during a 5-year period. There were 194 patients (112 males, 82 females; average age 3 years 9 months, range 0 to 17 years 11 months) who visited our clinic for dysphagia disorder. Approximately half were referred by medical facilities near our clinic, while only 1% were introduced from remote hospitals in rural areas. Nearly all of the patients were affected by underlying disease, and 20% had low body weight at birth or preterm delivery, or showed immature basic motor functions. It is important to provide patient support in the early stage by use of an interdisciplinary approach for improvement of dysphagia. A pediatric dentist is also needed to manage improvement of orofacial form and function for development of eating function.
