Correlates of the orthodontic aspects of the general dentist's practice

A study was undertaken to determine the extent of orthodontic referrals and treatment performed by general dentists. The relevance of this study to dental education was found in attempting to ascertain the extent and type of predoctoral training of general dentists and relating this to the number of referrals and the extent and type of orthodontic treatment performed by the general practitioner. Results indicate that those general practitioners who graduated after 1945 tend to make significantly more referals than earlier graduates, and that general practitioners who had treated patients orthodontically in their predoctoral training tend to continue doing so in practice.