title: Regional variation in the provision and cost of General Dental Service orthodontic treatment in England and Wales.
abstract: The regional distribution of orthodontic treatment provision through the General Dental Service was examined, with reference to, per capita spending, cost per case and treatment rate; a marked regional variation in these variables was detected. The regional distributions of the specialist orthodontic practitioner and the General Dental Practitioner were calculated; and also exhibited a marked regional variation. The relationships between the regional distributions of manpower treatment rate and spending on orthodontic treatment were calculated. It was found that there were significant relationships between the regional distribution of manpower and treatment rate and per capita spending, but not cost per case. Possible explanations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University Dental Hospital, Manchester.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003815:Dentists / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004739:England; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000191:economics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D014852:Wales; D000078329:Workforce