title: Effectiveness of phase I orthodontic treatment in an undergraduate teaching clinic.
abstract: In this retrospective study, the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index was used to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of Phase I (early) orthodontic treatment provided in an undergraduate teaching clinic. Pre-treatment and post-treatment casts of ninety-three patients were analyzed. All patients selected for Phase I orthodontic treatment had Class I skeletal relationships and did not require complex orthodontic treatment such as growth modification or treatment of occlusions with missing or impacted teeth. The mean age of patients who received Phase I orthodontic treatment was 9.9 years. The mean initial PAR score for the sample was 29.70 +/-9.84. The mean reduction in PAR score was 14.9 points corresponding to a 50.2 percent decrease in the PAR score following Phase I orthodontic treatment. Seventy-three percent of the patients experienced at least a 30 percent reduction in their PAR score following Phase I (early) orthodontic treatment. The mean cost of $381.00 for the Phase I orthodontic treatment was found to be influenced by the length of treatment, type of Phase I treatment provided, age at start of treatment, and percentage reduction in PAR score. The greatest success rate for the Phase I orthodontic treatment occurred with either fixed or a combination of fixed and removable appliances. Over half of the patients recommended for Phase I orthodontic treatment in the undergraduate dental clinic were successfully treated and did not require Phase II treatment. For them, there was both a treatment and a financial benefit to the Phase I orthodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bernas
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Banting
authors.forename: Lesley L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Short
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003740:Dental Clinics; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D003765:Models, Dental; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000145:classification; D009968:Orthodontic Appliances, Removable; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome