[Dental treatment and oral health care on Tokashiki Island, Okinawa].
Okinawa Prefecture has been promoting dental treatment and oral health care in places where there are no dentists. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has been cooperating with eight dental colleges, including Tokyo Medical and Dental University, for promotion thereof since 1961. The 155th promotion was held on Tokashiki Island. The caries prevalence rate of the students on Tokashiki Island was relatively high compared with the average caries prevalence rate of the same age group throughout Japan, and most of the caries were thought to be due to too many soft drinks. Resin filling was the most popular treatment during this promotion. Severe periodontal disease was observed in middle-aged persons, but we could only perform initial periodontal treatment because of the limited treatment period. Complete or partial dentures were made or repaired for many elderly. The questionnaire study showed most of the denture wearers on Tokashiki Island were satisfied with their dentures, although many dentures did not fit, and the prescription was improved. The period of this promotion was too short to perform complete dental treatment and to prevent caries and periodontal disease, and primary prevention and higher dental hygiene education should be strengthened in no dentist areas like Tokashiki Island.
Kawashima
N
N
Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Hirano
S
S
Morigami
M
M
Yamaguchi
Y
Y
Murakami
M
M
Uematsu
H
H
Suda
H
H
Tagami
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003779:Denture Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003780:Denture Repair / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors