Clinical Statistics for Dysphagia Patients ≤18 Years of Age in the Center of Special Needs Dentistry, April 2012–March 2013

Abstract

In April 2012, the Center of Special Needs Dentistry SND was established at Showa University Dental Hospital to provide function training for children with eating and swallowing disorders. A statistical clinical assessment was performed on new patients ≤ 18 years of age who visited the Center over a 1-year period April 2012-March 2013 to assess the conditions present at the initial visit. In all, 60 patients 29 boys, 31 girls, mean SD age 4.2 4.1 years, range 0-18 years of age were included in the study. Most patients were 1 year of age 32 and most came from one of four cities in the Johnan area Shinagawa City, Meguro City, Ota City and Setagaya City. The most common primary diseases at the initial visit were cerebral palsy and cleft lip and palate. The third largest patient group was of healthy children with oral function problem. Over 60 of patients attended the Center of SND because of an eating-related complaint. More than 50 of patients were obtaining nutrients via oral intake ; the remaining patients were obtaining nutrients via non-oral or a combination of oral and nonoral intake. Because of the young age of the patients and the fact that most were from neighboring areas, it can be inferred that effective community health care is being provided. It is necessary for the Center of SND to continue to provide professional treatment for dysphagia and to contribute to community medicine.

Changes in Pediatric Patient Trends in Eating and Swallowing Disorders: A Comparison between the First and Fifth Year after Establishment of the Special Needs Dental Center

“…The following information was collected from the medical records of new patients aged ≤ 18 years visiting the Center during this one-year period: age, geographic origin, referring facility, primary disease, reason for visiting the Center, method of nutritional intake, and eating and swallowing function. The results of these statistics were compared with those from patients examined between April 2012 and March 2013 4 . Experimental protocols were approved by the Showa University Dental Hospital Institutional Review Board Permission Number: DH2018-028 .…”

“…Patients who required diagnosis of eating problems accounted for the majority of patients in both 2012 and 2017. The number of patients who wanted a Hotz plate decreased 4,6 . By contrast, patients with worries regarding an unbalanced diet and weaning food increased Fig.…”