Future Strategies for Oral Hypofunction ― A 2040 Challenge Connecting Policy, Clinical Practice, and Community Care ― - The 6th International Dental Symposium

Session

Moderator

Japan

Prof. Koichiro
Matsuo 松尾
浩一郎先生

Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics and Gerodontology, Tokyo Dental College 東京歯科大学老年歯科補綴学講座教授

Dr. DH

10/ 4（sun）

9:00 - 10:30

4F〜6F ホール C

Session 17

Future Strategies for Oral Hypofunction
― A 2040 Challenge Connecting Policy, Clinical Practice, and Community Care ―

口腔機能低下症の未来戦略
～制度・臨床・地域をつなぐ2040年への挑戦～

In this session, we will review the evolution of the systems and policies surrounding oral hypofunction and summarize the latest findings emerging from both research and clinical practice. We will also explore new developments in occlusal and swallowing assessment and, by integrating the perspectives of policy, clinical care, and community-based support, consider how oral function should be understood and managed in the future.

Japan

Prof. Takayuki
Ueda 上田
貴之先生

Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics and Gerodontology, Tokyo Dental College 東京歯科大学老年歯科補綴学講座教授

Moderator & Lecturer

Current Perspectives on Oral Hypofunction in Clinical Practice

口腔機能低下症の臨床最前線

Clinical changes over the past decade since oral hypofunction began to be applied in practice
The significance of incorporating oral hypofunction into routine clinical practice
How to use examination results in daily clinical care

病名ができてから10年間の臨床の変遷
口腔機能低下症を日常臨床に取り入れる意義
検査結果の日常臨床への活かし方

When oral hypofunction began to be applied in clinical practice, attention focused on objectively assessing oral function and making a diagnosis based on the results. Over the past decade, however, the significance of such examinations has become widely recognized. The focus has now shifted to how examination results can be used to guide oral function management in routine clinical practice and how related changes can be monitored over time. Examination results are relevant not only to functional training but also to dental treatment planning, including prosthodontic treatment. This lecture aims to provide an opportunity to consider the next step: how oral function management can be smoothly incorporated into daily clinical practice and become established as one component of oral health management, in integration with other aspects of dental care.

Japan

Dr. Yuko
Komine 小嶺
祐子先生

Section Manager, Dental Health Division, Health Policy Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare 厚生労働省医政局歯科保健課課長

Lecturer

The Background to the Insurance Coverage of Oral Hypofunction and Future Perspectives in Dental Health Care

口腔機能低下症のプロローグと歯科保健医療のこれから

Insurance coverage for the examination and management of oral hypofunction
Promotion of oral and dental health throughout the life course
Future directions for the dental healthcare system toward 2040

口腔機能低下症の検査・管理の保険収載
ライフコースを通じた歯科口腔保健の推進
2040年に向けた歯科医療提供体制の構築

Eight years have passed since the Japanese national health insurance system’s coverage of oral function management for oral hypofunction in 2018. As we are approaching 2040, the number of the older population with complex medical and long-term care in Japan is expected to increase. Therefore, the importance of optimizing oral function in clinical care continues to expand. This lecture will review recent trends in dental health care and discuss the factors that prompted the national insurance system to include oral hypofunction management. In addition, the presentation will explore future perspectives and initiatives aimed to further promote oral and dental health throughout the life course, including the management of oral function. Through this discussion, the author aims to explore how oral health strategies can contribute to healthier aging and improved quality of life in an aging society.

Japan

Prof. Koichiro
Matsuo 松尾
浩一郎先生

Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences for Community Welfare,
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Institute of Science Tokyo 東京科学大学大学院医歯学総合研究科地域・福祉口腔機能管理学分野教授

Lecturer

Recent Advances in the Clinical Evaluation of Declined Masticatory and Swallowing Function

咀嚼嚥下機能低下の評価における新展開

Mechanisms of Eating Solid and Swallowing Liquid
Decline and Dysfunction of Masticatory and Swallowing Function
Emerging Trends in the Evaluation of Masticatory and Swallowing Function

咀嚼嚥下と液体嚥下のメカニズム
咀嚼嚥下機能の低下と障害
咀嚼嚥下機能評価の展望

The mechanisms involved in eating solid food differ from those of swallowing a liquid bolus. Understanding these differences is essential for the appropriate evaluation and management of dysphagia. This lecture will review the physiological mechanisms underlying chewing-swallowing and liquid swallowing, and discuss age-related decline and disorders affecting these functions. Particular attention will be given to the detection of impaired masticatory and swallowing function. In addition, current clinical assessment methods will be summarized. Finally, emerging approaches for functional assessment, such as wearable sensors, digital monitoring, and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis, will be introduced, with discussion of their potential to improve early detection, personalized intervention, and future dysphagia care.