OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

What is the Division of The Center for Special Needs Dentistry ?

The Center for Special Needs Dentistry comprises two divisions: the Consultation Room of Special Needs Dentistry and the Consultation Room for Dysphagia Rehabilitation. The Consultation Room of Special Needs Dentistry provides dental care to individuals with mental or physical disabilities and those who need long-term care and special assistance must be provided when administering dental care. Treatment is implemented gradually with appropriate actions such as training conducted as necessary. Treatment is provided in a low-stress environment by offering behavior therapy and treatment under general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or inhalation sedation, depending on individual needs. The Consultation Room for Dysphagia Rehabilitation provides care for patients of all ages from nursing infants to elderly patients with difficulty in eating or swallowing (dysphagia). Patients are examined using videofluoroscopy (VF) or videoendoscopy (VE) with the goal of reducing the risks of aspiration or choking because of dysphagia. Other individuals who have difficulty in eating and swallowing, including elderly people or individuals who have had a stroke, undergo testing to ascertain which functions have been affected. We will provide guidance for eating safely, such as individualized training as well as safety tips for eating, feeding, and caregiving based on the test results. Special care is given to stimulate the functions necessary for eating in infants and children with guidance on feeding and the fabrication of specialized oral devices.