The rapid growth of aged population of Japanese society will force dentists to copewith physical problems of elderly. One of the major problems of elderly is the swallowing disorder, which should be managed by various profession, medical doctor, speech therapist, nurse and dentist. If a dentist has a patient with dysphagia, he must be a member oftreatment team for dysphagia and must have contact with other professions. Therefore, terminology about dysphagia is important matter in the treatment team.
Mastication and swallowing are most important portions in a series of eating behaviors. However these objects had been studied as discrete objects. Past studies showed swallowing had 5 stages, anticipatory, preparatory, oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal stage. This model explained movement of water swallowing well, but couldn't be an explanation for another situation of swallowing. Recent studies have shown other models of swallowing, for example, swallowing after mastication and sequential swallow. These studies showed that normal swallowing has some varieties.
The effect for our educational program about swallowing and dysphagia was shown. Many of the students could evaluate precisely some dysphagic problem after the program. Dentists should be a professional for oral problem, and should play a bigger role for a treatment of dysphagia.