Need and decision making in dentistry--an economic perspective.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Dental Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The definition and assessment of need in dentistry are debated.
• Key questions remain regarding the necessity, assessors, and contexts for need assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an economic rationale for assessing dental needs.
• To clarify the roles of different stakeholders in need assessment across various decision-making levels.

Main Methods:

• Economic principles applied to healthcare resource allocation.
• Distinction of three decision-making levels: individual patient, professional practice, and community.
• Identification of three distinct assessors of need: patients, dentists, and society.

Main Results:

• Resource scarcity necessitates explicit and rational choices in dental care provision.
• Patients are central to decisions regarding seeking and complying with care.
• Dentists are responsible for treatment decisions, requiring consideration of social context.
• Dental professionals can assess population oral health improvement potential.
• Policymakers hold the ultimate responsibility for societal decisions on met needs.

Conclusions:

• Establishing defined roles for need assessment across different settings is vital.
• The concept of 'need' is fundamental for effective planning and provision of dental care services.
• Integrating economic principles enhances rational decision-making in dental resource allocation.