Optimal dental treatment time for the elderly

Objectives: In elderly patients, the optimal treatment time may be influenced by biorhythms and factors associated with their general condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimal dental treatment time for the elderly. Methods: The subjects were 100 outpatients aged ≥65 years (elderly group) and 100 in their 20s (control group) after obtaining the informed consent. A questionnaire survey by hearing was performed about the desired dental treatment time zone and good/poor physical condition, systemic diseases, and medicines. Results: In the elderly group, the desired time zone for dental treatment was most frequently 10:00-11:00 a.m. (42%), with 73% preferring treatment in the morning (9:00-12:00). In the control group, the desired dental treatment time zone widely distributed from 9:00 to 21:00. The distribution of the desired treatment time was significantly differed between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001). In the elderly group, 56% complained of a poor physical condition immediately after waking up in the morning and from after lunch to the evening, however very few complained in the morning (9:00-12:00), and 23% had a habit of napping within a wide time zone between 11:00 and 17:00 with a peak at 2:00. In the control group, 21% complained of a poor physical condition, mostly immediately after waking up in the morning (14%). However, few cntrols had a habit of napping. Consequently, complaints of a poor physical condition showed significant differences in the number of subjects and the time distribution between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001). In the elderly group, 89% had medical treatment, however neither systemic diseases, nor medicines affect dental treatment time. Conclusions: These results suggested that the optimal time zone for dental treatment in elderly patients is 9:00-12:00 in the morning, when their physical condition is stable. Supported by the JSPS grant (No.15659460).