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Dental clinic attendance in Soweto, South Africa, before and after the introduction of free primary dental health services
Author(s) -
Bhayat Ahmed,
CleatonJones Peter
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.00006.x
Subject(s) - medicine , attendance , casual , dental health , family medicine , dentistry , dental care , primary care , materials science , economics , composite material , economic growth
– Objective: To compare patient attendance rates 1 year before and after the introduction of free primary dental health services in Soweto, South Africa. Methods: Monthly clinic records for clinic attendance, both casual and booked, and number of dental operators were recorded 1 year either side of April 1996. Results: Patient attendance fluctuated by day and season. There was a mean 46% increase in attendance after free primary dental health services were introduced, with more than a sixfold increase in casual attendees (pain, sepsis) than in booked patients (restorative treatment, dentures, orthodontics). Conclusions: There was a statistically significant increase in casual patient attendance in the year after free primary dental health care was introduced with an increased dental operator load.