Changing treatment patterns.
BACKGROUND
Patterns of clinical care are closely linked to the nature of diseases in the population. During the past decade, the nature of both dental caries and periodontitis has undergone a transformation that has implications for dental practice. Especially in younger cohorts, the overall need for extensive restorative and periodontal treatment is much reduced, compared with that of prior generations.


CONCLUSIONS
Over the next several decades, there will be a slowly declining per-capita need for restorative and surgical care. The overall mix of services will continue to shift toward diagnostic and preventive services.


CONCLUSIONS
At least in terms of today's conventional dental care, each provider in the future should be able to manage the oral health care needs of larger numbers of patients than is possible today.
Eklund
S A
SA
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000639:trends*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States