title: Treatment of malocclusions in children and adolescents at a public dental service clinic in Sweden: extent and cost.
abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate the extent and the cost of orthodontic consultation and treatment of malocclusions in 19-year-olds at a Public Dental Service (PDS) clinic. A further aim was to evaluate the group of patients who discontinued their treatment prematurely. A total of 223 patient records were reviewed. The results showed that every second patient (106 of 223) was seen by a specialist for orthodontic evaluation. Of these, 54% (57 of 106) were treated with removable appliance, 29% (31 of 106) benefited from interceptive treatment without appliance and 12% (13 of 106) were referred to a specialist clinic. The costs for specialist consultations comprised 19% of the overall orthodontic treatment cost. Premature interruption of treatment with removable appliance was found in 17% (10 of 57) of the patients. This group consumed 12% of the overall orthodontic treatment cost. Reasons for discontinuing treatment included problems with co-operation and motivation and a lack of parental support. Seventy per cent of those who discontinued their treatment prematurely had been treated with an activator.
authors.affiliation: Public Dental Service, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Permert
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Karlander
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000191:economics; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009972:Orthodontics, Interceptive / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000191:economics*; D013548:Sweden