Multidisciplinary care – how should we manage the complex orthodontic/paediatric dentistry case? part 1

In recent years, there has been a movement towards multidisciplinary and patient-focused dental care. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of individuals from different specialties working closely together and using their expertise to achieve optimum patient care. Joint restorative-orthodontic clinics,¹ joint facial deformity clinics and combined cleft care² have been suggested and developed to facilitate this approach. The suggested advantages in reviewing patients in a multidisciplinary environment include linked treatment provision and a reduction in the number of appointments in the planning stage, all aimed to maximize patient care, clinical provision and efficiency.

The joint paediatric dentistry-orthodontic clinic (CDHCC – Child Dental Health Consultant Clinic) provides access to a MDT, for children and adolescents with paediatric dental and orthodontic problems, enabling each patient to have an allocated time with clinicians of both specialties simultaneously. Formal assessment of the patient can be undertaken, allowing discussion and consultation between the clinicians and patient.