Quality of care of orthodontic treatment :
Date
2007
DOI
Authors
Bales-Kogan, Ariel
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of orthodontic care provided by graduate students at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine Orthodontics Department. As a comparison group, patients treated by American Board of Orthodontics (ABO)-certified orthodontists, or Diplomates, in private practice were evaluated. The Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and the ABO’s Objective Grading System (OGS) were used as measures of quality of care, as well as treatment duration. A total sample of 479 cases were examined, 213 of which were from the graduate clinic and 266 from 4 Diplomates. The results from multiple regression models indicate that using the PAR index, there was no difference in quality of care between patients treated at the graduate clinic and those treated by Diplomates, as measured by post-treatment PAR, percent PAR reduction, and PAR pass proportion (>70% percent PAR reduction). With respect to the OGS, multiple linear regression modeling indicated that quality of care at the graduate clinic was significantly better than that of the Diplomates (p=0.003). Further, cases from the Diplomates had a 62% lower odds of meeting the OGS criteria for quality compared to cases from the graduate clinic. Although bivariate analysis indicated a significant difference in treatment duration between the two groups (p[less than]0.000l), after controlling for confounders (such as gender, age, extractions, and retention methods), the difference was no longer significant. Although overall average quality of care at the graduate clinic appeared favorable according to ABO guidelines, a large proportion of cases from both the graduate clinic (33.3%) and from Diplomates (58.6%) would likely fail the ABO final certification process. As such, mechanisms need to be developed and adopted in order to increase the proportion of overall cases at the graduate clinic that meet the ABO guidelines of successful treatment. ln addition, the ABO procedures and process for board certification may need to be revisited to better reflect orthodontists’ standard of care.
Description
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Thesis (MSD)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2007 (Dental Public Health).
Thesis (MSD)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2007 (Dental Public Health).
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.