Orthodontics and health: have we widened our perspectives?

Orthodontics has seen a change in perspective in the United Kingdom. The patient, provider and purchaser are considered in sequence when considering this change. The changes in oral health, wider knowledge and greater expectations have affected the patient's perspective. While, for the provider, changes in diagnosis, linked with outcome and stability of treatment, have resulted in the development of indices of treatment need and outcome and the need to consider intervention, based on health grounds, plus equity of care. The purchaser needs appropriate technology and manpower available to provide a service in the international perspective of limited resources for health care and has an increased interest in equity of care provided using state funding.