Pathways to orthodontic care

Background The research described in this paper arose out of the need to address the growing waiting list for orthodontic treatment in Northamptonshire. Although the prevalence of dento-facial anomalies is the same across time, sex, race and socio-economic class, studies in the United States and this country suggest that certain groups are over-represented among patients who receive orthodontic treatment. The introduction of valid and reliable indices of therapeutic need such as the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) will allow improved focusing of services. The aim of the the study was to determine the variables affecting access to orthodontic care, and the extent to which services were delivered according to objective measures of need.