Abstract
The Purpose of this paper was to investigate the recent trends of the first time patients who visited the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Tohoku University Dental Hospital. The records of five hundred and three patients who visited the clinic during the period from April 1996 to March 1999 were examined concerning the reason for the visit, medical history, oral health status, and the dental treatment as well as the preventive care performed before the first recall visit. The following results were obtained.
1. While the total number of patients slightly decreased compared to the reports of the 1980's, the number of one or two year-old patients increased.
2. Most patients visited for treatment of decayed teeth (43%), followed by dental health care (31%).
3. The proportion of the number of medically compromised patients to the all patients was 45%, and it increased compared to the past reports. The cleft lip and palate were the most frequent reasons and the percentage for all of the patients was 16%.
4. The mean dft scores decreased for all of the ages of 1-6 compared to the past reports.
5. Restoration with composite resin was the most common restorative treatment for both primary teeth and permanent teeth. The number of fissure sealed permanent teeth was greater than the total number of the restored permanent teeth.
6. Professional application of topical fluoride was performed on 30% of the patients and the lowconcentrated topical fluoride solutions for home use were administered to 20% of the patients. Both were mainly applied to the 1-2 year-old patients.
7. Dental health care program for the medically compromised patients from the early age of 1 or 2 has increased in our clinic.
