The development of a consensus among primary care dentists of referral criteria for school dental screening.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain consensus amongst a sample of primary care dentists in the North West of England on a set of clinical criteria that should trigger referral following school dental screening.


METHODS
Delphi process.


METHODS
Primary dental care, England 2002.


METHODS
Primary care dentists in the North West of England were randomly selected to complete a two round 'Delphi exercise' that included 10 potential referral criteria. The dentists were invited to express their level of support for the inclusion of each referral criterion.


METHODS
Level of agreement for each referral criterion. Acceptance of any criterion was that the interquartile range should be no more than 3 scale points with the lower value being no less than 7.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight dentists, (72.7%), completed the Delphi exercise. Six referral criteria met with the groups' approval: Child with caries in permanent dentition. Child with darkened/discoloured permanent incisors. Child aged 9-10 years with overjet greater than 10 mm. Child over six years with either gross plaque, calculus or swollen gums. Child with evidence of sepsis. Child registered with a GDP with caries in permanent dentition.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible for a representative sample of primary care dentists in the North West to agree referral criteria following school dental screening.
Kearney-Mitchell
P I
PI
Halton NHS Primary Care Trust, Victoria House, The Holloway, Runcorn WA7 4th/OHU-NPCRDC, Manchester University Dental School, Manchester.
Milsom
K M
KM
Blinkhorn
A S
AS
Tickle
M
M
D002648:Child; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*