Identification of practice problems in dentistry.

Abstract

This paper examines the use of dental insurance claim data for studying the dental care delivery system. Several research projects are described including investigations of the amount, types and causes of variation in dental practice patterns, the cost-effectiveness of different patterns of care in producing oral health, the feasibility of focused utilization review systems and the selection of continuing education topics and participants. The importance of these and other data information systems to the future practice of dentistry and medicine is stressed.