The Dental Health Behavior of Pedodontic Patients

Factors Related to Failed and Canceled Appointments of Children and Guardians

Abstract

This study investigated factors related to failed and canceled appointments of pedodontic outpatients at a pedodontic clinic in fiscal 1992.
The results were as follows:
1) The children who had a short commute to the dental clinic showed a tendency toward an increased number of canceled appointments.
2) Cooperative children showed a tendency toward an increased number of canceled appointments, when the child was under five years of age.
3) The children under five years of age who had been under treatment without local anesthesia, showed a tendency toward an increased number of canceled appointments.
4) The children who returned for periodic examinations showed a tendency toward an increased number of canceled appointments as the rate of the guardian's reasons increased.
It was therefor suggested that the factors of failed and canceled appointments were related to the number of the guardian's excuses and whether the guardian recognizes an urgent necessity of dental treatment.