Summary of: Orthodontic referral behaviour of West Sussex dentists

Key Points

• Provides a snapshot of orthodontic referral decisions made by GDPs in West Sussex shortly after the introduction of the new NHS dental contract.

• Many dentists made appropriate referral decisions about malocclusions best managed in primary or secondary care.

• The majority of West Sussex dentists were not familiar with, or did not regularly use, the IOTN when making an orthodontic referral.

Abstract

Objectives 1) To examine the orthodontic referral behaviour of dentists and 2) to examine dentists' familiarity with the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).

Design Postal questionnaire survey.

Setting West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) from September to December 2006.

Subjects and methods Questionnaires were sent to all dentists listed on the West Sussex PCT database, except those assumed not to make orthodontic referrals (n = 325).

Results Two hundred and twenty-nine questionnaires were returned, representing a 70% response rate. Fifty-two percent of dentists in West Sussex correctly identified which type of orthodontic provider to refer three different malocclusions using picture tests. Twenty percent of dentists made correct decisions on the timing of referral for three different malocclusions using picture tests. IOTN is not routinely used by 76% of West Sussex dentists when making an orthodontic referral.

Conclusions This study provides evidence that there is a need for postgraduate training or the development of referral guidelines to assist West Sussex dentists in making referrals for orthodontic treatment to the most appropriate provider at the most appropriate time. If dentists are to act as gatekeepers of orthodontic provision on the NHS there is a need to provide more support and education for them about the use of IOTN.

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