A Five-year Survey of Actual Status of Patients Making then

First Visit to the Pediatric Dental Clinic of our University (2002-2006)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual conditions of initial visit patients during the last 5 years (2002-2006) at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of our Meikai University and compare to the previous investigation (the first investigation: 1992-1996, the second investigation: 1997-2001).
The following results were obtained:
1. The mean number of patients visiting initially was 569, and it increased from the previous investigations (the first investigation; 324, the second investigation; 462).
2. The 3-year-old children showed the highest rate (14%) among the patients making then first visit. Patient under 6-years of age amounted to about 60% of all the outpatients and this tendency was the same as the previous investigations.
3. An investigation concerning the distance from the home to the clinic showed that most of the outpatients (30%) were within the 5 km range. About 25% of them however were from a distance of over 15 km.
4. The chief complaint of dental caries and toothache appeared in about 50% of the patients and this was the same as the previous investigations.
5. The mean numbers of df and DMF during the five years showed about the same score but these had a tendency to decrease to a smaller score than that of the previous investigations.
6. The percent of patients referred from the other general practitioner (33.4%) increased in the second investigation (25%). The 3-year-old children as the generation and 5-10 km range as the distance from the house to clinic were the most abundant among the patients referred.
7. The total number of disabled children amounted to 91, and amounted to about 3.2% of all of the outpatients.