THE JOURNAL OF THE TOKYO DENTAL COLLEGE SOCIETY

Vol. 109 No. 1      February 2009

ISSN: 0037-3710      UBIC: 342-J

ABSTRACT

A retrospective investigation was made of 3,504 patients in 2003 and 4,608 patients in 2006 who consulted the Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Dental Anesthesiology at Tokyo Dental College Chiba Hospital. The number of patients increased gradually over the 4-years period. The number of patients requiring intravenous sedation showed a gradual increase. However, there is a limit to the number of patients our outpatient department can accept. Therefore, this increase led to an increase in the number of patients managed by a dental anesthesiologist visiting outpatient clinic of those other than the Department of Dental Anesthesiologist in Chiba Hospital. Patients were divided into the following categories: medically compromised patients, disabled patients, patients undergoing minor oral surgery, and patients with dental phobia or gag reflex. The number of patients with dental phobia or gag reflex increased markedly over 4 years. Patients seeking safety and comfort appear to be increasing in number. The specialization of our outpatient department and the effect of advertising in 2005 are believed to be the reason behind this increase. (The Shikwa Gakuho, 109 : 85-89,2009) Key words: Outpatient clinic, Medically compromised patient, Visiting dental anesthesiologist, Phobic patient

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