A comparison of consecutive orthodontic referrals seen by a consultant unit and specialist orthodontic practitioners.

It has been suggested that the consultant orthodontic service and specialist practitioner service should have different roles, with the former concentrating its treatment input on the management of severe malocclusions. In an attempt to determine whether referring dental practitioners appeared to be aware of these differences, 100 consecutive orthodontic referrals seen at a consultant orthodontist's clinic were compared and contrasted with the same number seen at each of four specialist orthodontic practices located in the same city, and within 4 miles of the consultant unit. Comparisons were made both on the basis of clinical information obtained from study models and from analysis of referral letters. The consultant sample contained a greater proportion of requests for treatment plans, but there were few differences in terms of the range and severity of the actual malocclusions referred to each of these specialist services. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to possible future developments of orthodontic services in the U.K.