Methods of charging and the fees charged for dental hygiene services in traditional and nontraditional settings.

The information presented in this paper was obtained as part of an ongoing longitudinal study of 1982 dental hygiene graduates. This portion of the study was contracted by the American Dental Hygienists' Association and investigated the methods of charging for dental hygiene services and the fees charged for these services. In September 1986, mail questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 1,008 dental hygienists who graduated in 1982. Responses were received from 766 subjects--a 76% response rate overall and a 77% response rate from subjects with valid addresses and who had received the questionnaires. Data were analyzed for clinical dental hygienists in traditional and nontraditional settings. Results showed that the methods of charging for services and the fees charged were similar in both settings. Although most hygienists provided many services, only one fee for these services was charged in most settings. The mean prophylaxis fee for child patients at traditional settings was $23.52, and $23.38 at nontraditional settings. The mean prophylaxis fee for adult patients at traditional settings was $31.23, and $32.61 at nontraditional settings.