THE PROVISION OF ORTHODONTIC SERVICES BY GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS.2. FACTORS INFLUENCING VARIATION IN-SERVICE PROVISION

Previous work has shown that variations exist amongst general dental p ractitioners in the volume and type of orthodontic services provided, the type of orthodontic appliances used, and the objectives of the ort hodontic treatment. The aims of this survey were to identify practitio ner characteristics that account for variations in the level of orthod ontic services provided and which distinguish providers and non-provid ers of orthodontic services. Multiple regression analysis revealed tha t four practitioner characteristics explained 41 per cent of the varia nce in the number of orthodontic patients treated. Dentists who treate d more orthodontic patients: 1) treated more general practice patients ; 2) frequently used multiple sources to keep up to date in orthodonti cs; 3) perceived their patient base to contain more children; and 4) w ere likely to have attended a Truitt course. Eleven variables best dis tinguished providers from non-providers of orthodontic treatment; 1, 2 and 3 above had the highest correlation with the discriminant functio n. The Null Hypothesis that selected characteristics of dentists provi ding orthodontic services were no different from those of dentists not providing orthodontic services was rejected. The provision of orthodo ntic services was associated with a higher level of continuing orthodo ntic education as well as treating more general practice patients, esp ecially children.