An investigation of the special practitioner system of pediatric dentistry in Japan

Abstract

We sent questionnaires to all the members (4,298 people) about the specialist pediatric dentistry system in Japan (Hereafter, termed specialists). The survey (1,129 dentists answered the questionnaire) revealed the following:
1. About 29% of the members who have qualifications for pediatric dentists, authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry (JSPD), hoped for a specialist qualification immediately.
2. Eighty point six percent of the members who do not have qualifications authorizing them as pediatric dentists answered that they wanted to take an examination to become a specialist as soon as they were qualified to take it.
3. Many members hoped that the examination to become a specialist would be strictly carried out.
4. Twenty-two point eight percent members thought that the qualifications for pediatric dentists authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry should be abolished after putting the specialist system into effect.
5. Fourteen percent of those that have the qualification of pediatric dentists, authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry, did not want to acquire the specialist title but they wanted to renew their current qualifications.
6. As dentists got older, the ratio of children patients (under 18 years old) tended to decrease.
7. However, about one-quarter, 112 members (about 10% of all) of dentists who are 50-69 years old (347 members) it occupied 34.7% of all treated exceeded 90% children patients.