[Dissertations 25 years after date 40. Treatment planning in dental practices]

In dental practices, many variations exist in the processes used in planning treatment, in relation not only to questions relating to the anamnesis, but also to examinations and treatment plans. The conceptual approach of dentists plays a role here. More simple treatment is planned if financial resources are limited. Most dentists adopt a wait-and-see approach with new patients. A smaller number attempts to push previous treatment policy in a radically different direction. Subsequent research has confirmed the variation among dentists and the role of conceptual approaches. In the past 25 years, the theme of quality in healthcare has emerged. New legislation by the government has played an important role here. Work is also being done in dental healthcare towards developing a quality system, made up of professional clinical guide-lines and measuring instruments, peer review of their use, and guarantees. The idea behind this is to reduce unexplained variations among dentists and to increase the transparency of care for patients.