( CONT.)
Several dentist characteristics were substantively related to the Dentists ' experience and whether they worked full or part time kinds of procedures performed, the study authors noted. Several also were factors related to many of these procedures, patient characteristics were substantively related to specific according to the authors. For example, experienced dentists procedures: age group, ethnic and racial distributions, insurance performed fewer extractions but more periodontal surgery, coverage, and visitation behavior. Interestingly, ADA and they found. Dentists with more than 10 years of experience Academy of General Dentistry( AGD) members were more likely were more likely to refer endodontic work. to do their own implants, compared with non-ADA or non-AGD members, they reported, without listing figures.
" Similar to the circumstance with periodontal surgery, it is possible that provision of endodontic services is a means for GDs to adjust to the availability of dental specialists and to overall demand for services in their practices," the authors wrote.
Dentists ' gender also was a factor: Male general dentists in the survey did more aesthetic procedures, placed removable prosthetics and implants, performed more endodontic work, and did more periodontal surgeries. These results reflect the outcomes of similar studies, they noted.
LOCATIONS AND INSURANCE
Dentists who provide care at more than one location reported doing more extractions and less restorative care, including aesthetically focused restorative care, the researchers found. Inner-city and rural practices were more likely to provide extraction and removable prosthodontic procedures, while suburban and urban practices( not inner city) were more likely to provide implants.
Private practices, compared with clinics with large public sources of funding, are more likely to provide " higher-end " services, such as restorative care and aesthetically focused restorative care, endodontics, implants, and orthodontics.
“ These findings may have implications for how GDs respond to the changing picture of dental economics and dental care utilization, demography of patient populations, the scope of practice, changing delivery models, access to care, and their evolving role in primary care...”
As expected, the services provided were substantively related to patient age group and race, the authors noted. But when patients had insurance, other categories were no longer a factor.
The dentists were more likely to provide restorative care, aesthetically focused restorative care, and endodontics when their patients had more private insurance coverage. Correspondingly, patients with public insurance or those who relied on free or reduced-fee care got lower-end procedures, they found.
" As dental insurance changes or expands to other patient populations in the future, GDs may adjust their mix of services to adapt to this changing demand," the authors wrote.
CONCLUSION
Although the study design precluded direct cause-and-effect conclusions, the researchers inferred that effects from a large number and broad range of factors seem to influence which procedures general dentists provide in their practices.
" These findings may have implications for how GDs respond to the changing picture of dental economics and dental care utilization, demography of patient populations, the scope of practice, changing delivery models, access to care, and their evolving role in primary care," the study authors concluded. �
Los Angeles Dental Society Explorer