Treatment of malocclusions in children and adolescents at a Public Dental Service clinic in Sweden: extent and cost

This study was undertaken to investigate the extent and the cost of orthodo ntic consultation and treatment of malocclusions in 19-year-olds at a Publi c Dental Service (PDS) clinic. A further aim was to evaluate the group of p atients who discontinued their treatment prematurely. A total of 223 patien t records were reviewed. The results showed that every second patient (106 of 223) was seen by a specialist for orthodontic evaluation. Of these, 54% (57 of 106) were treated with removable appliance, 29% (31 of 106) benefite d from interceptive treatment without appliance and 12% (13 of 106) were re ferred to a specialist clinic. The costs for specialist consultations compr ised 19% of the overall orthodontic treatment cost. Premature interruption of treatment with removable appliance was found in 17% (10 of 57) of the pa tients. This group consumed 12% of the overall orthodontic treatment cost. Reasons for discontinuing treatment included problems with co-operation and motivation and a lack of parental support. Seventy per cent of those who d iscontinued their treatment prematurely had been treated with an activator.