The use of geographical information systems in examining variations in sociodemographic profiles of dental practice catchments: a case study of a Swansea practice.

AIM: The aim of this paper is to use a case study approach to illustrate the potential for using geographical information systems (GIS) to examine the provision of dental services in the UK. A major benefit of using GIS to examine sociodemographic profiles of patients on a dental register is to inform policy makers.
METHOD: We illustrate the advantages of such an approach by using a postcoded list of registered patients for a dental practice in Swansea. To be of value in this context, the maintenance of up-to-date and fully postcoded information by practitioners is vital. We draw attention to the advantages (and current limitations) of using deprivation indices in conjunction with such lists. RESULT: GIS has significant potential in analysing patterns of registration, and utilisation, of such services but, to date, there has been a relative dearth of studies that have developed such systems.
CONCLUSION: We conclude by drawing attention to wider benefits of such software tools in the dental profession and outline a research agenda to take these issues further.