[Treatment of temporomandibular disorders in general practice. A survey in view of insurance claims].
In the eighth decade of the last century, about 3.5% of Dutch men and about 6% of Dutch women reported temporomandibular disorders. In 5% of the Dutch population temporomandibular disorders were diagnosed. It is unknown how many persons are seeking treatment for temporomandibular complaints. The aim of the present study was determining for how many persons and at which age of these persons treatments of temporomandibular disorders in general practices were reimbursed by an insurance company. On the basis of the yearly number of reimbursements by this insurance company, the yearly number of treatments of the Dutch population as a whole was estimated. The estimation was 0.87 treatments per 1.000 inhabitants, which figure was substantial lower as could be expected on the basis of the outcome of epidemiologic research projects. Within the limitations of this explorative study, a careful conclusion could be that only few treatments for temporomandibular disorders are charged by general practitioners. Probably, they are focussing on consultation and diagnosing, and not on treating the disease themselves.
Slater
J J W Huddleston
JJ
Uit de IZA/IZR-zorgverzekeringen, Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam (ACTA). huddle@planet.nl
Slater
J J R Huddleston
JJ
Naeije
M
M
D005250:Fees, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*