Knowledge and Practice Of Orthodontic Record Keeping – A Clinical Audit

ABSTRACT

Background: Record keeping is an essential process and its importance cannot be ignored when it comes to Orthodontics. Even diagnosis is dependent on accurate and reliable Orthodontic records. Apart from diagnosis and treatment planning, these records are also important for medico-legal issues, publications, self -appraisals, patient education. The Basic record keeping armamentarium in Orthodontics includes Case history, consent forms plaster models, a panoramic radiograph, Lateral cephalogram, intra and extra oral pictures. The objective of this study was be to determine the knowledge and Practice trend of Orthodontic record keeping amongst the dental practioners.Material & Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted across various dental clinics in Bangalore city. The sample selection for Dental clinics was made by the lottery method, and total of 40 clinics were selected from the list of registered dental clinics. Questionnaires were designed in such a way so as to determine the knowledge, awareness and practice trends about the Orthodontic records keeping among dental practitioners. Questionnaires were collected back by hand and analysed. The data was tabulated in excel sheet and statistical analysis was performed on the data.Results:Chi-square/ Fisher Exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on a categorical scale between two or more groups. Student t-test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on a continuous scale between two groups (Intergroup analysis) on metric parameters. 65% practitioners didn’t attend any CDE program on maintaining health records program whereas 35% had attended such program’s. Majority of general practitioners had knowledge and awareness about Orthodonticrecord keeping while as practice of Orthodontic record keeping was not completely as per norms.Conclusion:The present study found the good knowledge and awareness about orthodontic record keeping, but record keeping practice was found to be average due to lack of adequate infrastructure at clinics and non-usage of digital technology in most of the clinics . This study suggests that more awareness programs stressing the importance of Orthodontic record taking and workshops for incorporating digital technology related to the storage & preservation of Orthodontic record should be conducted.