( CONT .)
Several dentist characteristics were substantively related to the Dentists ' experience and whether they worked full or part time kinds of procedures performed , the study authors noted . Several also were factors related to many of these procedures , patient characteristics were substantively related to specific according to the authors . For example , experienced dentists procedures : age group , ethnic and racial distributions , insurance performed fewer extractions but more periodontal surgery , coverage , and visitation behavior . Interestingly , ADA and they found . Dentists with more than 10 years of experience Academy of General Dentistry ( AGD ) members were more likely were more likely to refer endodontic work . to do their own implants , compared with non-ADA or non-AGD members , they reported , without listing figures .
" Similar to the circumstance with periodontal surgery , it is possible that provision of endodontic services is a means for GDs to adjust to the availability of dental specialists and to overall demand for services in their practices ," the authors wrote .
Dentists ' gender also was a factor : Male general dentists in the survey did more aesthetic procedures , placed removable prosthetics and implants , performed more endodontic work , and did more periodontal surgeries . These results reflect the outcomes of similar studies , they noted .
LOCATIONS AND INSURANCE
Dentists who provide care at more than one location reported doing more extractions and less restorative care , including aesthetically focused restorative care , the researchers found . Inner-city and rural practices were more likely to provide extraction and removable prosthodontic procedures , while suburban and urban practices ( not inner city ) were more likely to provide implants .
Private practices , compared with clinics with large public sources of funding , are more likely to provide " higher-end " services , such as restorative care and aesthetically focused restorative care , endodontics , implants , and orthodontics .
“ These findings may have implications for how GDs respond to the changing picture of dental economics and dental care utilization , demography of patient populations , the scope of practice , changing delivery models , access to care , and their evolving role in primary care ...”
As expected , the services provided were substantively related to patient age group and race , the authors noted . But when patients had insurance , other categories were no longer a factor .
The dentists were more likely to provide restorative care , aesthetically focused restorative care , and endodontics when their patients had more private insurance coverage . Correspondingly , patients with public insurance or those who relied on free or reduced-fee care got lower-end procedures , they found .
" As dental insurance changes or expands to other patient populations in the future , GDs may adjust their mix of services to adapt to this changing demand ," the authors wrote .
CONCLUSION
Although the study design precluded direct cause-and-effect conclusions , the researchers inferred that effects from a large number and broad range of factors seem to influence which procedures general dentists provide in their practices .
" These findings may have implications for how GDs respond to the changing picture of dental economics and dental care utilization , demography of patient populations , the scope of practice , changing delivery models , access to care , and their evolving role in primary care ," the study authors concluded . �
Los Angeles Dental Society Explorer