Roles of Dental Care in Disaster Medicine in Japan

Abstract

Purpose of Review Natural disasters occur frequently in Japan. A disaster medical system was rapidly developed in Japan following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Dentistry has become increasingly important in disaster medicine. This review summarizes the roles of dental professionals in disaster medicine, highlights relevant issues, and identifies new directions for research to improve disaster relief activities based on our previous experiences as dental professionals supporting the victims of major disasters. Recent Findings Many preventable deaths after a disaster are caused by aspiration pneumonia, which occurs against a background of factors that are compounded by a harsh living environment. An important aim of dental care in disaster medicine is to prevent these disaster-related deaths in vulnerable persons such as the elderly. This can be achieved through interventions to maintain oral hygiene, preserve and enhance oral function (i.e., chewing and swallowing), and improve the diet, since these interventions help to prevent the development of malnutrition and frailty in vulnerable people. Dental identification of disaster victims could be improved through the use of intraoral three-dimensional scanners and artificial intelligence to automate the acquisition of dental findings and through the construction of a national database of digitized dental records. Advances in personal identification methods will be needed given the prediction that a catastrophic earthquake will occur on the Nankai Trough during the next 30 years and claim more victims than the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Summary Disaster-related deaths due to aspiration pneumonia can be prevented by providing appropriate dental care to those in need. The process of identifying victims could be made more efficient through the use of intraoral three-dimensional scanning, artificial intelligence, and a digital database of dental records. Establishing and strengthening relationships between professionals in different regions will help to optimize the multidisciplinary response to future large-scale disasters.

Poor Environmental Conditions Created the Acute Health Deteriorations in Evacuation Shelters after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

“…It is important to continue medical care for patients with chronic diseases, as well as providing a supportive their living environment. Furthermore, the importance of dental care, including oral care, in preventing aspiration pneumonia after a disaster has been reported (Yamazoe et al 2022;Kato et al 2019).…”

Disaster Dentistry: The Forgotten Essential

“…Studies conducted in past disasters in East Asia show that one of the causes of mortality, especially in the elderly, after disasters is aspiration pneumonia, which can be reduced by maintaining oral and dental hygiene and improving chewing and swallowing function. 1 The role of dentists is essential in examining the condition of the mouth and teeth and taking basic preventive and therapeutic measures such as scaling, extraction of unmaintainable teeth, and oral health education to create a relatively suitable and stable condition in people, and to have them regularly monitored until they return to normal life. Dentists can help at any stage of disaster due to their skills and knowledge in the field of health; they have a significant, flexible, and practical impact on the management of the injured.During disasters, dentists can examine and treat the injured people in the form of general services (including examination of vital signs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemostasis, and bandages) 2 and specialized services in the head and neck area (including examination of traumas and fractures of the head, mouth, and teeth).…”