Dentists' decisions as to mode of preventive treatment in adolescents and young adults in Finland.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate dentists' real-life decisions as to mode of preventive treatment in adolescents and young adults, in relation to these patients' oral-health status, and to the dentists' characteristics.

DESIGN

A random sample of 206 adolescents and 239 young adults (mean ages 13 and 27 years) produced 411 (92%) individual oral health records providing data on actual clinical examinations and treatment courses carried out by 56 dentists in one administrative unit of the Finnish public oral health service during 1994-1996.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Preventive measures were defined as active and passive, active including any kind of motivation or instructions given to a patient concerning home self-care, and passive prevention being topical application of fluoride.

RESULTS

More adolescents had received both active and passive prevention than had young adults (active: 27% vs. 20%; passive: 85% vs. 70%). Of adolescents, 7% and of young adults 25% were given no preventive treatment. The mean number of active preventive measures per adolescent during the treatment course was 0.3 and of passive measures 1.0; for young adults 0.2 and 0.8, respectively. A subject's oral health status made no significant difference in active prevention given. Active measures were more frequently given to all patients by male dentists, 35% vs. 22% (P < 0.02), and passive measures by females, 82% vs. 52% (P < 0.001). The odds of active prevention for adolescents were 7.4 comparing male dentists to female; of passive 13.8 comparing female to male.

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists should be motivated to make considered treatment decisions on preventive treatment.