Orthodontic outreach clinics--no marked advantages or disadvantages

Abstract

Design: Single centre randomised controlled trial.

Intervention: Allocation of referred patients to outreach or main base consultation appointments.

Outcome measure: The outcome of consultation, the cost and duration of the visit and the carer/patient's perceptions of the visit.

Results: There were no differences in outcome of the consultation. While consumer travel costs and the duration of appointments were significantly higher for the main base clinics, these differences were not great. However, consumers preferred to attend an appointment in an outreach clinic.

Conclusions: There do not appear to be marked advantages or disadvantages in providing consultation appointments for orthodontics in outreach clinics.