In 1999, we gave a Questionnaire on “having a family dentist” to 414 workers (300 males, 114 females) at a government office. Oral health examination was also provided to the same subjects.
The following results were obtained:
1. Female workers (43%) had a family dentist more often than male workers (29%), and the difference was significant (p<0.01)
2. About 45% of the subjects received regular dental checkups at least once a year; however, half of them did not have a family dentist.
3. Convenience, comfort, and communication factors were the main reasons for choosing a particular dentist, while continuity, comprehensiveness, and specialty factors were not taken into consideration in choosing a dentist.
4. The persons who had family dentists had more FT and DMFT, and fewer total numbers of teeth than those without family dentists.
From these results, it was suggested that people visited dentists with dental problems and received treatment repeatedly, and then they came to have family dentists. The habit of visiting a dentist regularly seeking checkups and prevention is not yet popular among Japanese adults.
To improve oral health consciousness and to promote oral health, it should be recommended to receive regular checkups and oral health education by a family dentist. However, the present condition does not allow this system. Therefore in Japan, it should be encouraged to provide oral health examination and oral health education regularly at work sites, to improve the oral health of the adult population.
