Pediatric Dentistry
The Pediatric Dental Clinic was started as the Clinical Room for Pediatric Dentistry in 1964 (chief: Dr. Sadahiro YOSHIDA). After Dr. YOSHIDA moved to Gifu Dental College, Dr. Shizuo SOBUE was designated as the chief in 1971, and then upgraded the facility to the Pediatric Dental Clinic in 1975 and became its head. Dr. Takashi OOSHIMA was designated as the head of the clinic in 2002 and Dr. Kazuhiko NAKANO was designated as the head in 2014. Presently, there are 21 dentists working in the clinic, who treat children and adolescent patients.
Head | Kazuhiko NAKANO |
Vice Head | Rena OKAWA |
Chief of Outpatient Clinic | Yoko OGAYA |
Chief of Inpatient Ward | Masatoshi OTSUGU |
■ Clinical practice
We admit children and adolescents as patients at their first visit up to approximately 15 years old for various dental problems. Dental caries and periodontitis are two of the major categories, while treatment for traumatized teeth is also performed. In addition, fluoride application, space maintenance, occlusal guidance and examinations of periodontal bacterial species, which are not covered by national insurance as ordinary treatments, are provided. Furthermore, we accept patients who have great fear during dental treatment or those with systemic diseases. At our clinic, our Tooth Decay Prevention Class is emphasized, in which instruction to guardians about prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases is provided, as well as periodic examinations for early detection and early intervention of dental problems. 5 specialists for pediatric dentistry qualified by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry (JSPD) and 2 instructors qualified by the JSPD to train specialists are serving at the Clinic, who not only treat patients but also instruct undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as young dentists for the purpose of training as many specialists as possible.
■ Clinical research
In our system, patients and their guardians receive tooth brushing and diet instructions at the second visit (the Tooth Decay Prevention Class). We also perform examinations to detect oral bacterial species related to dental caries and periodontal diseases using saliva or dental plaque specimens from both patients and guardians, with the results, such as total number of cariogenic bacteria and periodontal species, reported during the following visit. This scientific information provides motivation for the patients and guardians to improve their oral health. In addition, we are presently constructing a method for determining high-risk subjects for dental caries or periodontal diseases based on the results of these examinations and clinical conditions