A 21-year Survey of the First Visit of Patients at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of a University Dental Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze a fact-finding inquiry of the first visit of patients and to discover the role of the university dental hospital in the community. A 21-year period, from April 1982 to March 2003, was investigated. The results were as follows:
1. The mean number of children per year for the first visit was four hundred and sixty four. It increased during the last six years.
2. The number of boys and girls were about the same.
3. In the previous ten years, children in deciduous dentition period formed the greatest percentage, about 40% and in the latter ten years, the children of mixed dentition period formed the greatest percentage, about 45%.
4. Over 90% of the children came Tokushima prefecture. In 2002, the number of children from outside Tokushima prefecture increased to 5.1%.
5. The rate of referred patients was about 30%.
6. The ratio of children who suffered from physical and/or mental diseases was about 10%.
7. The recent chief complaint about dental caries decreased and malocclusion of mixed dentition, congenital missing or supernumerary teeth, or injury increased to about 15%, respectively.
8. The reason for visiting our clinic was referral from other dentists, to obtain more advanced treatment or recommendations of relatives or friends.
9. Since 1992, the ratio of re-visiting for regular check ups for longer than five years was about 50%.