A Survey of Periodic Dental Visits Among Patients Receiving Preoperative Consultations.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between regular dental visits and the oral health status.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Methods: We included 3,138 patients who visited the preoperative outpatient clinic and underwent oral examinations between April and September 2020. Patients whose last dental visit occurred less than one year prior to data collection constituted the regular visit group, while the irregular-visit group comprised those with a last dental visit beyond one year prior to data collection. We examined the following information: last dental visit, sex, age, disease causing hospitalization, frequency of daily brushing, presence or absence of moving teeth, and oral hygiene status.

Results: The frequency of brushing was lower in the irregular-visit group than in the regular-visit group, suggesting a lower awareness of oral health in the irregular-visit group. Furthermore, the oral hygiene status in the regular-visit group was better than that in the irregular-visit group, with more patients showing no tartar deposition.

Conclusions: Regular dental checkups can mitigate perioperative complications, preventing them from adversely affecting the treatment of the underlying disease. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of oral management, explain the need for it, and actively encourage regular dental visits.