OBJECTIVE: To compare the patterns of treatment of general dental practitioners working under fee-for-service in 1987/88 with those working under capitation in 1992/93. DESIGN: 73 randomly selected general dental practitioners working under capitation in three contrasting areas in England retrospectively recorded the treatment provided during 1992/93 to a random selection of their regularly attending 6-12- and 14-15-year-old patients. RESULTS: Mean numbers of examinations per year reduced in the three areas from 1.7-1.8 in 1987/88 to 1.2-1.4 in 1992/93. Mean numbers of visits per patient dropped from 2.5-2.9 to 1.8-2.2. Mean numbers of fillings in permanent teeth reduced from 0.15-1.04 to 0.09-0.52 and in deciduous teeth from 0.28-0.53 to 0.24-0.31. Mean percentages of children per dentist having extractions fell from 9.3-28.1% to 4.7-16.2% while the radiographs reduced from 14.0-9.0% to 6.0-10.6%. Mean percentages of children per dentist receiving oral hygiene instruction rose from 18-31% in 1987/88 to 26-33% in 1992/93. Dietary advice increased from 3-18% to 11-20% and fissure sealants from 3-6% to 3-12%. CONCLUSIONS: In 1992/93, dentists working under capitation were carrying out fewer examinations, fillings and extractions and were taking fewer radiographs for their regularly attending child and adolescent patients than dentists working under fee-for-service in 1987/88. These patients also attended less frequently for treatment but received marginally more preventive care and advice.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the patterns of treatment of general dental practitioners working under fee-for-service in 1987/88 with those working under capitation in 1992/93. DESIGN: 73 randomly selected general dental practitioners working under capitation in three contrasting areas in England retrospectively recorded the treatment provided during 1992/93 to a random selection of their regularly attending 6-12- and 14-15-year-old patients. RESULTS: Mean numbers of examinations per year reduced in the three areas from 1.7-1.8 in 1987/88 to 1.2-1.4 in 1992/93. Mean numbers of visits per patient dropped from 2.5-2.9 to 1.8-2.2. Mean numbers of fillings in permanent teeth reduced from 0.15-1.04 to 0.09-0.52 and in deciduous teeth from 0.28-0.53 to 0.24-0.31. Mean percentages of children per dentist having extractions fell from 9.3-28.1% to 4.7-16.2% while the radiographs reduced from 14.0-9.0% to 6.0-10.6%. Mean percentages of children per dentist receiving oral hygiene instruction rose from 18-31% in 1987/88 to 26-33% in 1992/93. Dietary advice increased from 3-18% to 11-20% and fissure sealants from 3-6% to 3-12%. CONCLUSIONS: In 1992/93, dentists working under capitation were carrying out fewer examinations, fillings and extractions and were taking fewer radiographs for their regularly attending child and adolescent patients than dentists working under fee-for-service in 1987/88. These patients also attended less frequently for treatment but received marginally more preventive care and advice.
Authors: Andreea Voinea-Griffin; D Brad Rindal; Jeffrey L Fellows; Andrei Barasch; Gregg H Gilbert; Monika M Safford Journal: J Healthc Qual Date: 2010 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 1.095
Authors: Andreea Voinea-Griffin; Jeffrey L Fellows; Donald B Rindal; Andrei Barasch; Gregg H Gilbert; Monika M Safford Journal: BMC Oral Health Date: 2010-04-28 Impact factor: 2.757
Authors: Harry Hill; Stephen Birch; Martin Tickle; Ruth McDonald; Michael Donaldson; Donncha O'Carolan; Paul Brocklehurst Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-03-06 Impact factor: 2.655