Socioeconomic deprivation and NHS orthodontic treatment delivery in Scotland

Objective The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the relationship between deprivation and the delivery of primary care NHS orthodontic services across Scotland. Method Deprivation was measured using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, supplied data on all claims for orthodontic treatments in Scotland for the years 2008 and 2009. Each claim was assigned to a SIMD quintile (SIMD 1 being the most deprived, and SIMD 5 the least deprived), and odds ratios were calculated. Results Uptake of orthodontic services is highest in the least deprived areas. Patients from the least deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to receive orthodontic treatment as those from the most deprived areas (odds ratio of 1.90 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.86 to 1.94). Conclusion Patients from more the most deprived backgrounds are less likely to receive orthodontic treatment than those from more affluent backgrounds, which does not necessarily reflect need.