The relationship between practice ownership and follow-up of comprehensive dental care. A Swedish register study.

AIMS: The aims of this register study were: 1.  To study whether the type of ownership of the dental practice was correlated with the type of dental care provided, that is public versus private ownership and professional (dentist or dental hygienist) versus non-professional ownership. 2.  To study the extent of follow-up of patients who have undergone two types of treatments.  Material and method: Two types of dental care were defined in the two groups studied, periodontitis/peri-implantitis and comprehensive restorative/rehabilitation. All relevant treatment codes that fall under these definitions are noted when they are performed. Also, the follow-up of each treatment code is noted. Differences in dental and socioeconomic status over time and between regions were adjusted for. A drop-out analysis was performed.  Results: Dental practices owned by dentists or dental hygienists schedule follow-up appointments for patients who have undergone comprehensive restorative or rehabilitation dentistry more often than practices with other types of ownership. Dental practices owned by dentists or dental hygienists follow up patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis less frequently.

CONCLUSION: Type of ownership of a dental business influences the extent to which periodontal, and comprehensive restorative or rehabilitation dentistry were followed up.