Evaluation of the optimal time of the dental treatment for the elderly

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimal dental treatment time for the elderly. The subjects were 100 outpatients aged 65 years old or older (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 and good/poor physical condition, systemic disease, and medicines. In the elderly group, the desired time for dental treatment was most often found to be 10:00–11:00 a.m. (42%), with 73% preferring treatment in the morning (9:00–12:00). In the control group, the desired time widely distributed from 9:00 to 21:00 h. 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 between 9:00 and 12:00. These results suggested that the optimal time for dental treatment in elderly patients is 9:00–12:00 in the morning when their physical condition is stable.