Orthodontic visits and expenditures among children 2004

Objectives: We describe recent trends in the age of patients receiving orthodontic services and look at how expenditures for these services are related to patient age and income level.

Methods: Orthodontic visit and expenditure estimates were based on three national health expenditure surveys sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (AHRQ) conducted in 1987, 1996 and 2004.

Results: Children 8 to 18 made up an increasing percentage of all patients receiving orthodontic services while the percentage of patients over 18 fell. 55.6 percent of total dental expenditures among children 8 to 18 were related to orthodontic care in 2004. The percentage of children reporting a visit for orthodontic services was 3.8% among children < 100% of the FPL and 29.8% among children > 400% of the FPL .

Conclusion: In 2004, children 8 to 18 years old accounted for a larger percentage of patients who received orthodontic services than in 1987. The percentage of total dental expenditures among children 8 to 18 devoted to orthodontic services may increase in the future due to a reduction in the need for restorative services among this segment of the population.