The professional perception of orthodontic treatment complexity.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the current professional concept of orthodontic treatment complexity.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey of practitioners' views towards recently completed orthodontic treatments.


METHODS
Specialist and non-specialist practitioners in General Dental Services in North Western and Mersey regions. The sampling was carried out between 1993-95.


METHODS
All practitioners undertaking orthodontic treatments in the GDS in the North Western and Mersey regions were invited to participate. Practitioners submitted consecutively started cases for scrutiny by analysis of study models and pre-treatment and post-treatment questionnaires. 280 cases were collected. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression.


METHODS
The occlusal changes were assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and the Peer Assessment Rating. Self administered questionnaires employed 5-point Likert type scales to record practitioners' and patients' opinions.


RESULTS
It appears that the concept of complexity is related to the occlusal changes which occur during orthodontic treatment. Attempts to define treatment complexity identifies factors which are of questionable validity and could be easily manipulated in practice setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The present concepts of treatment complexity appear to be somewhat flawed. There is no occlusal index of complexity which is particularly satisfactory but as a crude interim measure 3 grades of complexity are proposed based on the PAR index.
Richmond
S
S
Department of Child Dental Health, University Dental Hospital, University of Wales, College of Medicine, Health Park, Cardiff.
Daniels
C P
CP
Fox
N
N
Wright
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003792:Dental Records; D003815:Dentists; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003765:Models, Dental; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013218:State Dentistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome