Do check-up intervals correspond to caries indices in the free public dental service in Helsinki, Finland?
OBJECTIVE
To compare check-up intervals proposed for 0 to 18-year-old children and adolescents receiving free public dental care, in relation to caries indices and dentist's characteristics.


METHODS
Data on check-ups from municipal ADP files of the Helsinki City Health Department for 1999 were evaluated. Check-up (examination) intervals proposed for the target patients were correlated to patients' caries indices and to dentists' age and gender.


METHODS
Public dental clinics of the Helsinki City Health Department.


METHODS
In total, 48,040 patients whose check-ups were conducted by 140 dentists.


METHODS
Length of check-up intervals and dentists' ability to differentiate between patients by caries indices.


RESULTS
The mean check-up interval was 16.4 months (SD 5.0). In all age groups, mean check-up intervals proposed were shorter the higher the caries indices. Check-up intervals ranged from 3 to 36 months, with considerable variations present among patients in no-caries, past-caries, low-caries and high-caries groups. Dentists' ability to differentiate between patients by caries indices varied widely.


CONCLUSIONS
To optimise the use of dental care resources, more emphasis should be placed on selection of individual check-up intervals by encouraging dentists to differentiate between patients.
Helminen
Seppo K J
SK
Helsinki City Health Department, Finland.
Vehkalahti
Miira M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors