Some aspects of orthodontic specialist practice in the United Kingdom

A questionnaire sent to orthodontic specialist practitioners provided information about the nature of specialist practice, the training of specialist practitioners and the patterns of treatment within orthodontic practices. Specialists are now undergoing more extensive postgraduate training and the use of fixed appliances is increasing. General dental practitioners are referring larger numbers of patients to orthodontic specialist practitioners. Several factors will soon be operating to encourage a raising of treatment standards in British orthodontics, namely a falling birth rate, an increased interest in dentistry by the general public and the availability of an increased number of well-trained orthodontic specialist practitioners. Some form of official recognition for the specialist practitioner role is now desirable whilst the historical model for delivery of orthodontic care defined at the inception of the National Health Service in in urgent need of revision.