Analysis of orthodontic treatment by pediatric dentists and general practitioners in Indiana

This investigation analyzed the extent of orthodontic services currently being provided by pediatric dentists and general practitioners in Indiana. All 71 Indiana pediatric dentists primarily in private practice and 500 general practitioners were mailed a survey/questionnaire. Sixty-two percent of the pediatric dentists and 17.9 percent of the general practitioners surveyed provided comprehensive orthodontic treatment, results much higher than those of previous surveys of pediatric dentists and general practitioners. Pediatric dentists were found to provide significantly more comprehensive orthodontic treatment and spend significantly more time providing orthodontic treatment than general practitioners, especially those in communities of less than 25,000. Sixty-three percent of the practitioners surveyed had taken some type of continuing education in orthodontics. These practitioners spent significantly (p less than 0.001) more time treating orthodontic conditions, and treated more complex cases than those who had not taken such courses.