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GDP referrals for orthodontic treatment
B S Thind1, S Hewage, C J Larmour
1Department of Orthodontics, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Aberdeen.
Objective:
To assess the accuracy of the information provided by General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) in referral letters for orthodontic treatment.
Design:
An audit.
Setting:
Orthodontic Department, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Aberdeen. METHOD (SUBJECTS): Prospective assessment of GDP referrals over a two month period. Information provided by referrals compared with British Orthodontic Society guidelines.
Results:
A total of 103 new referrals were assessed. Only 25 (24%) patients knew why they were referred. Nineteen (18%) patients were keen on treatment before being explained what treatment was indicated. Nine (8%) patients declined treatment after being explained the risk/benefit of the treatment. Approximately one third of the patients examined had inadequate oral hygiene. Five (4%) patients had more than two active carious lesions. Forty two (41%) referrals provided no information or missed important malocclusion features. None of the letters provided details of patient's general medical practitioner.
Conclusions:
The present audit has highlighted a number of recurring problems with GDP referrals to a hospital orthodontic department. It has indicated a need to inform referring GDPs about the minimum information required in their referral letters. It is suggested that referring dentists should follow the recommendations of the British Orthodontic Society.
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