EXTENT AND PROVISION OF ORTHODONTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN FINLAND

Orthodontic services for Finnish children and adolescents up to the ag e of 18 in 1992 were monitored by a questionnaire sent to all municipa l health centres responsible for children's dental care in Finland, an d 96% responded. All health centres provided some orthodontic treatmen t, but the percentage of 0-18-year-old children receiving treatment ra nged from 1% to 19%. One-quarter of all dental visits of the 0-18-year -olds were in connection with orthodontics. The timing of treatment wa s early: the average age for starting was 9.5 years. In statistical an alyses, the number of children receiving treatment was associated with the timing of treatment. At the age of 7, the most frequently used ap pliances were quad helix, removable appliance and orthopaedic headgear and, at the age of 13, fixed appliance and activator. Most treatments were provided by nonspecialists. The specialist expertise needed was usually purchased from an outside orthodontist by means of consultatio n contracts. Every fifth health centre, usually the largest, had emplo yed one or more specialist orthodontists. The regional distribution of orthodontists was uneven, emphasizing regional variation in the deliv ery of orthodontic services.