Medical profile of a dental school patient population.

Advances in health care and pharmacotherapeutics have led to a growing aging population living with complex medical conditions. These changes are apparent in patients presenting for treatment at dental schools. This study assessed the medical profile of patients seeking treatment at the School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo. Medical records of 1,041 consecutive patients who presented for comprehensive dental care at the school were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic data, medical status, and use of medications from the charts were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 52 (SD+/-18), and the female to male ratio was 1.2:1. More than half of the patients had one or more systemic illnesses or were taking medication. The results of this study reflect the medical complexity of the growing aging population. The dental school curriculum should address the needs for management of the growing number of medically complex patients.