Demand and referral pattern for orthodontic care at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the demand and pattern of referral for orthodontic services at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.


METHODS
A 21-month prospective clinic-based study of consecutive orthodontic patients.


METHODS
The orthodontic clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy-eight (178) consecutive patients, consisting of 79 (44.4%) males and 99 (55.6%) females with mean age of 16.21+/-7.81 years were studied.


RESULTS
80% of subjects were 20 years of age or younger, while less than 2% were over 40 years of age. More females sought orthodontic care than males. Over 43% of the patients needed removable orthodontic appliances while close to 17% required treatment with fixed appliances. Extractions of retained primary teeth and other grossly malpositioned teeth accounted for 9.6% while 24.7% needed observation of occlusal developments before any treatment decisions could be made. Dentists were noted to be the main referrers of these patients, accounting for over 49% of the referrals, followed by 25.4% who were self referred, and 18.3% who attended under parental influence.


CONCLUSIONS
More girls than boys demanded orthodontic care and dentists were the major referrers of orthodontic patients.
Onyeaso
C O
CO
Department of Preventive Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. coonyeaso@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data