Demand and referral pattern for orthodontic care at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Date
2004
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Abstract
Objective: To assess the demand and pattern of referral for orthodontic services at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Design: A 21-month prospective clinic-based study of consecutive orthodontic patients. Setting and sample population: The orthodontic clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy-eight (178) consecutive patients, consisting of 79 (44.4%) males and 99 (55.6%) females with mean age of 16.21 ± 7.81 years were studied. Results: 80% of subjects were 20 years of age or younger, while less than 2% were over 40 years of age. More females sought orthodontic care than males. Over 43% of the patients needed removable orthodontic appliances while close to 17% required treatment with fixed appliances. Extractions of retained primary teeth and other grossly malpositioned teeth accounted for 9.6% while 24.7% needed observation of occlusal developments before any treatment decisions could be made. Dentists were noted to be the main referrers of these patients, accounting for over 49% of the referrals, followed by 25.4% who were self referred, and 18.3% who attended under parental influence. Conclusion: More girls than boys demanded orthodontic care and dentists were the major referrers of orthodontic patients.
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International Dental Journal
Keywords
Demand, referral pattern, orthodontic treatment, Nigeria
Citation
10.1111/j.1875-595X.2004.tb00289.x