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The consultant orthodontic service--1996 survey
J I Russell1, A I Pearson, D E Bowden
1Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
British Dental Journal
|September 11, 1999
Summary
The UK consultant orthodontist service treats many patients needing orthodontic care, with improving treatment complexity. However, the service shows little change over a decade due to funding and manpower issues.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Orthodontics
- Healthcare Services Research
Background:
- Consultant orthodontist services are crucial for managing complex orthodontic cases.
- Understanding current working patterns and facilities is essential for service evaluation and improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the working patterns and available facilities within the consultant orthodontist service in the UK.
- To assess the current scope of practice and patient caseloads.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted.
- Questionnaires were distributed to all consultant orthodontists across the UK.
- Data collected included consultant details, departmental facilities, new patient referrals, and current treatment cases.
Main Results:
- The service treats a high volume of patients with clear orthodontic needs.
- A decrease in removable appliance use suggests enhanced treatment complexity and standards.
- A significant proportion of patients were managed with treatment plans returned to referring dentists.
- The service continues to offer general orthodontic treatment alongside super-specialist care.
Conclusions:
- Little significant change has been observed in the consultant orthodontist service over the last ten years.
- This stagnation is attributed to purchaser demands and insufficient trained orthodontic personnel.
- Inadequate manpower planning and limited postgraduate training funding contribute to the shortage of specialists.