Diagnostic and restorative behaviour in Dutch dentists' paediatric dental care.
OBJECTIVE
This was to assess if Dutch dentists have comparable attitudes in providing diagnosis and consecutive dental treatment in children. Prevention, radiographic diagnostics and restorative care were compared in four consecutive age groups [<6 years old, 6-8, 9-11, 12-17].


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study calculations were made using the financial records of one of the largest Dutch health insurance companies. After Medical Ethics approval all dental records of 4,500 dentists over a period of three consecutive years were used to calculate correlations and odds ratios, using early treatment, oral diagnosis, preventive approach and the use of local analgesia as basic independent variables.


RESULTS
Early diagnosis based on the use of radiographs in children younger than 6 years increased the likelihood of direct restorative care 2.8 times and the likelihood of restorative care in future age groups 2.2, 2.0 and 1.6 times respectively. Early radiographs increased the likelihood of diagnostics in consecutive older groups by 3.7, 3.4 and 1.9 times respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
An early diagnostic approach based on radiographs in paediatric dental care seems to be indicative for dentists' pattern of dealing with older children. This child-centred approach is limited to a small number of dentists.
Heijdra
J S C
JS
Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam [ACTA], Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Heijdra@acta.nl
Veerkamp
J S J
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000379:methods; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*