Key Points
-
Quantifies the accuracy of assessing referrals for extractions as tier 1 or tier 2 procedures.
-
Presents a model whereby the triage system can be improved without directly affecting quality of patient care.
-
Identifies a signicant propensity to underestimate the complexity of extractions when triaging referrals which could be improved by better quality referral letters.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
NHS England. Guide for Commissioning Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine Specialties. London, 2015.
O'Neill E, Gallagher J E, Kendall N . A baseline audit of referral and treatment delivered to patients in the intermediate minor oral surgery service in Croydon PCT. Prim Dent Care 2012; 19: 23–28.
Coulthard P, Kazakou I, Koron R, Worthington H V . Referral patterns and the referral system for oral surgery care. Part 1: General dental practitioner referral patterns. Br Dent J 2000; 188: 142–145.
Pau A, Nanjappa S, Diu S . Evaluation of dental practitioners with special interest in minor oral surgery. Br Dent J 2010; 208: 103–107.
Modgill O, Shah A . Compliance with the guide for commissioning oral surgery: an audit and discussion. Br Dent J 2017; 223: 509–514.
Pepper J R E, Sowerbutts J D . An audit investigating outcomes of referrals rejected from Surrey PCT (now NHS England)'s oral surgery triage service. Oral Surg 2013; 7: 18–25.
Renton T, Smeeton N, McGurk M . Factors predictive of difficulty of mandibular third molar surgery. Br Dent J 2001; 190: 607–610.
Susarla S M, Dodson T B . Risk factors for third molar extraction difficulty. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004; 62: 1363–1371.
Coulthard P, Bailey E, Bridgman C M . Introducing clinical triage for oral surgery referral management in England. Oral Surg 2014; 7: 143–151.
Dyer T A . A five-year evaluation of an NHS dental practice-based specialist minor oral surgery service. Community Dent Health 2013; 30: 219–226.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to colleagues who have assisted with this project and acknowledge the contributions of: Alsheima Osman, Mark Vardon, Mohsin Ali, and Sirisha Duggineni, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Dirk Slabbert, Sussex Implant Centre & Advanced Dentistry. We also acknowledge specific financial support to AL from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Faculty of Dental Surgery.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lalli, A., Slabbert, W., Killick, Z. et al. Modelling clinical decision-making in triage of referrals for extraction. Br Dent J 226, 62–66 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2019.8
Accepted:
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2019.8