title: Dentists' perceptions of the variety of dental services provided for children.
abstract: The purpose of this project was to describe the variety of dental services provided to child patients by general dentists and pediatric dentists. A survey was mailed to a random sample of 2000 general dentists and 1000 pediatric dentists requesting information about the dental services provided to children. Six hundred sixty-two general dentists (33 percent) and 492 pediatric dentists (49 percent) responded. Pediatric dentists reported more frequently obtaining informed consent (p < .0001), placing strip crowns (p < .0001), steel crowns (p < .0001) and pulp treatment procedures (p < .0001). Sealant use in both groups was high but the general dentists reported more frequently sealing occlusal surfaces with incipient caries (p < .001). There were differences in the reported provision of orthodontic services. The general dentists were more likely to refer children for treatment while the pediatric dentists reported they performed limited or comprehensive orthodontic treatment (p < .0001). The results of the survey demonstrate that pediatric dentists perceive that they provide a broader scope of restorative and orthodontic services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKnight-Hanes
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States