Result and Current Status of Medical and Dental Cooperation in Rural Core Hospital without a Dental Department / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

<p><b>Aims: </b>To verify the significance of medical and dental cooperation over the past 10 years in Haramachi Red Cross hospital, which does not have a dental department. We will also investigate the situation of inpatients' oral cavities in our hospital. From these results, we will discuss future activities about medical and dental cooperation.</p><p><b>Methods: </b>We analyzed questionnaire and the field survey data related to medical and dental cooperation. We also compared the current oral assessments by a dentist and the past assessments without a dentist.</p><p><b>Results: </b>A dental hygienist has participated in NST (Nutrition Support Team) rounds at our hospital since 2005. From then, we started oral assessments for inpatients and we recommend for patients to visit a dentist before surgery or chemotherapy. Furthermore, we have held oral care seminars for medical staff. As a result, medical staff have demonstrated an improvement in awareness and technique for oral care. Since 2013, a dentist from the Agatsumagun Dental Association has started oral assessments for preoperative inpatients at our hospital. However, we found that the frequency of problems in their oral cavities and that of postoperative pneumonia have not decreased.</p><p><b>Conclusion: </b>Medical and dental cooperation is effective for our hospital. We think that it is important not only to promote medical and dental cooperation, but also to perform a dental checkup and educate the general population on periodontal disease.</p>