The present study was done to evaluate the necessity of both dietetic education for dental patients and employment of dietitian in the dental clinic. Dietary management problems for the dental patients with dysphagia and their nutritional status were surveyed by the questionnaires. As a result, 86 . 7% of the patients were normal when the body mass index was employed. However, about 50% of the patients had the slight risk of malnutrition caused by continuous taking paste or liquid meals. In addition, the patients who had been taking such meals for a long time, tended to feel more uneasiness at meal, so it was suggested that continuous dietary education is necessary for maintaining their normal nutritional status. Moreover, to examine what was necessary to establish dietitian.s work in the dental clinic, the questionnaire survey for the practice expected of the dietitian was carried out to the dental staffs such as dentists, nurses and dental hygienists. Dietitians were expected to instruct the patients an appropriate meal according to the states of their mouth function and nutrition condition under cooperation with the dentist regardless of in- or out-patients. In conclusion, it is strongly suggested that dietitians should get wide knowledge and skills enough for satisfying the expectations, and that significant appeal for presence of dietitians in dental clinic to the dental staffs is crucial.
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