title: The interdisciplinary management of hypodontia patients in the UK: a national service evaluation.
abstract: Objective To examine the distribution of interdisciplinary clinics for hypodontia patients in the UK and to assess the provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients in units where this service is and is not available.Design Prospective, online-questionnaire.Setting Hospital orthodontic departments in the UK.Participants In total, consultants from 92 orthodontic departments completed the questionnaire.Methods Orthodontic consultants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients in their units.Results Overall, 100% of teaching hospitals and 51% of district general hospitals (DGHs) that responded have an interdisciplinary clinic for hypodontia patients. In 51% of units, the majority of patients assessed on the interdisciplinary clinic undergo their restorative care at the same secondary care unit. In 59% of units where an interdisciplinary clinic is not available most of the restorative care for hypodontia patients is provided by the GDP, whilst in 38% of units a specialist restorative dentist in another secondary care unit provides most of the restorative care.Conclusions The provision of an interdisciplinary clinic for hypodontia patients varies amongst hospital units throughout the UK. The provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients also varies between these units.
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: McSwiney
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000848:Anodontia / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom