DENTISTS PERCEPTIONS OF THE VARIETY OF DENTAL SERVICES PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN

The purpose of this project was to describe the variety of dental serv ices provided to child patients by general dentists and pediatric dent ists. A survey was mailed to a random sample of 2000 general dentists and 1000 pediatric dentists requesting information about the dental se rvices provided to children. Six hundred sixty-two general dentists (3 3 percent) and 492 pediatric dentists (49 percent) responded. Pediatri c dentists reported more frequently obtaining informed consent (p < .0 001), placing strip crowns (p < .0001), steel crowns (p < .0001) and p ulp treatment procedures (p < .0001). Sealant use in both groups was h igh but the general dentists reported more frequently sealing occlusal surfaces with incipient caries (p <.001). There were differences in t he reported provision of orthodontic services. The general dentists we re more likely to refer children for treatment while the pediatric den tists reported they performed limited or comprehensive orthodontic tre atment (p < .0001). The results of the survey demonstrate that pediatr ic dentists perceive that they provide a broader scope of restorative and orthodontic services.