Dutch dentists' decisions to take bitewing radiographs.

A postal questionnaire was sent to a 10% (n = 444) national random sample of Dutch dental practitioners. The response was 77% (n = 344). The practitioners prescribed bitewings on average for 57% of "new" 25-yr-old patients.

Pathways to full mouth extraction.

The process of not attending the dentist is a vicious cycle in which anxiety plays a crucial role. A research project concerning the disease and non-disease reasons for full mouth extraction provided an opportunity to describe the dental histories in terms of dental attendance pattern and related factors which resulted in full dentures. Three profiles of dental histories could be outlined: 1) The regular attenders (19%).

Decision processes preceding full mouth extractions.

Full mouth extraction is the final step in a continuous process in which not only dental but also social processes play a role. In a research project concerning the reasons for full mouth extractions in The Netherlands, it was found that over one-third of the patients had considered full mouth extractions at least once before, and 16% considered it frequently over a period of many years. Anxiety was the most important reason for not visiting a dentist.

Dentists' and patients' opinions of the dental condition at moment of full clearance.

Reasons for full mouth extraction in an urban and a rural area in The Netherlands (dentist-patient ratio 1:2500 and 1:5700 respectively) have been studied. Patients who participated in this combined sociodental research project were those who received full mouth extractions over a period of 1 yr. The combined patient response was 75% and the overall dentist response 90%.

Relative importance of periodontal disease for full mouth extractions in the Netherlands.

In order to determine the relative importance of periodontal disease, caries and non-disease reasons for full mouth extractions, a combined sociodental study was carried out in an urban and a rural area in the Netherlands. In the largest proportion of patients (57%) caries was the predominant disease. In only a small group (13%) was periodontal breakdown the predominant characteristic.