Assessment of quality of public oral health care on the basis of patient records.

The quality of public oral health care, especially the quality of preventive treatment in relation to patients' oral health, was investigated. The population studied consisted of 367 subjects representing the 15-yr-olds living in Helsinki in 1986. Data were taken from the patients' oral health charts, obtained from municipal dental clinics. Clinical examination of the teeth and periodontium had been adequately documented in 98% of cases. In 84% of cases, status recordings matched those recorded previously. Preventive treatment, on the whole, seemed insufficient and stereotyped. Of all patients 55%, and of those in high risk groups only 57 congruent to 60% had had a topical application of fluoride at least once during treatment. Periodontal treatment was insufficient and did not correlate with recorded clinical findings. The results indicate that the concept of prevention and its selective use had not been fully adopted as routine.