Referring children to a Special Dental Care Centre in the Netherlands: parents’ experiences and expectations

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between treatment at the family dentist versus referral and
different aspects of treatment at a Special Dental Care Centre (SDCC), including the choice to return to their family dentist or not. The
same study was performed for a group of patients recently referred to and still treated at a Special Dental Care Centre ( SDCC).

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to the parents of 852 children for whom complete dental records were available. Treatment was
completed for 111 children (study 1) and 170 children were recently referred and had just started treatment (study 2).
RESULTS/STATISTIC: In total 281 questionnaires were returned and filled out. Parents of children who returned to their general dental
practitioner (GDP) were more satisfied with their GDP treatment than parents of children who did not return to their GDP (study 1: Z=-
3.65, p<0.001; study 2: Z=-2.86, p=0.004).

Conclusion

The decision to return to the family dentist or not after treatment at a
SDCC centre was based on their satisfaction with their treatment.

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