A Study of New Patients in Pediatric Dentistry at Kanagawa Dental University Hospital in 2008 and 2018

Abstract

Changes in the environment surrounding children and parents' needs for dental care, and regional characteristics are expected to have a significant impact on pediatric dental care. The aim of this study was to compare the results of a survey on the role of pediatric dentistry in university hospitals in collaboration with community health care providers and the state of pediatric dentistry in university hospitals in 2008 and 2018. The study showed the following findings:

1. The number of first-visit patients decreased in 2018, however, the proportion of school-age patients increased. The number and proportion of referred patients both increased.

2. The most common chief complaint was caries in both years, followed by regular check-up, caries prevention, and trauma, in order.

3. The distribution of chief complaints did not differ significantly among places of residence, except for high caries-related chief complaints in Yokohama City and low regular check-ups, caries prevention, and orthodontic complaints in Yokosuka City.

4.Caries-related chief complaints were the highest in the 3- to 5-year age group.

5. The chief complaint of abnormal eruption increased in referred patients.

6. Breast milk was the most common source of nutrition during lactation, with an average weaning time of 7 months in both years. In 2018, weaning completion time was 2 months later than in 2008. Breast milk was the most common source of nutrition after 18 months of weaning in both years.

These results indicated the importance of considering chronological changes in first-time patients in the Yokosuka and Miura areas in order to contribute to the healthy oral development of children. In addition, our mission is to provide highly specialized pediatric dental care in collaboration with local medical institutions while staying close to the lives of patients.