Comparative cost and time analysis over a two-year period for children whose initial dental experience occurred between ages 4 and 8 years.

The dental treatment for 100 children was recorded on both a fee for service and time schedule. One hundred children were divided into one of five groups according to age at the first dental experience. Data were collected for a two-year period. The average cost by Massachusetts welfare standard were calculated. The average expenditure for a patient who presented for the first time at age 4 was $30. This fee increased by mean increments of $34.75 yearly until the average patient who presented initially at age 8 required $169 for two years of dental treatment. Time necessary for treatment likewise increased proportionally. Further data will be presented as they are calculated.