A record keeping system addressing future needs.

Important long-range decisions regarding the provision of dental care and the education of dentists and dental para-professionals will be made by the government and third parties. The quality and interpretation of the data to be used depend on who gathers it. If the dental profession is not in the position to gather the data, others certainly will be. There is a wealth of statistical data in the records of every practice. The record keeping system described provides an organized way to get such information out, with a minimum of additional effort. Rather than making it a series of separate tasks to generate a statistical description of the practice population, the incidence of problems, or the progression of treatments, this record keeping system provides a single comprehensive method. This method grows with a practice, whether individual, group, or clinic. By doing this, it provides a long-range continuous monitor of the practice population and the problems incident to it. The installation of such a methodology in clinics and dental school faculty practices will rapidly contribute to our knowledge regarding dental health care. Adoption in whole or in part by private practioners will provide them with new tools for the delivery of better dental care and practice management.