What is the value of orthodontic treatment?

Benson, P. E.; Javidi, H.; DiBiase, A. T.

doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.43

General
Published: 16 February 2015

What is the value of orthodontic treatment?

P. E. Benson¹,
H. Javidi¹ &
A. T. DiBiase²

British Dental Journal volume 218, pages 185–190 (2015)Cite this article

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Key Points

Explains that there is a sustained demand for orthodontic treatment, from all ages of the population.
Suggests that a significant proportion of NHS dentistry expenditure is on orthodontic treatment.
Stresses that it is important in a social healthcare system that this expenditure is justified.

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment is as popular as ever. Orthodontists frequently have long lists of people wanting treatment and the cost to the NHS in England was £258m in 2010–2011 (approximately 10% of the NHS annual spend on dentistry). It is important that clinicians and healthcare commissioners constantly question the contribution of interventions towards improving the health of the population. In this article, the authors outline some of the evidence for and against the claims that people with a malocclusion are at a disadvantage compared with those without a malocclusion and that orthodontic treatment has significant health benefits. The authors would like to point out that this is not a comprehensive and systematic review of the entire scientific literature. Rather the evidence is presented in order to stimulate discussion and debate.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Professor Donald Burden, Director of the Centre for Dentistry and Consultant Orthodontist, Queen's University, Belfast for reading an initial draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

Academic Unit of Oral Health and Development, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, S10 2TA
P. E. Benson & H. Javidi
Orthodontic Department, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Canterbury, CT1 3NG, Kent
A. T. DiBiase

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P. E. Benson
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H. Javidi
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A. T. DiBiase
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Correspondence to P. E. Benson.

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Benson, P., Javidi, H. & DiBiase, A. What is the value of orthodontic treatment?. Br Dent J 218, 185–190 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.43

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Accepted: 14 July 2014
Published: 16 February 2015
Issue date: 13 February 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.43

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