The objective of the EURO-QUAL programme has been to improve the quality of care for the individual patient. At the same time the need for harmonisation of health care in Europe was recognised. This Quality Improvement System (QIS) for orthodontic care in Europe comprises of 'Guidelines for how to implement a QIS' and reference material from the project teams: Financial Resources, Professional Development, Consumer Satisfaction, and Industrial Co-operation. In this respect the following topics are discussed: * The differences and similarities in local (national) quality initiatives. * The use of databases, as a technique to improve quality by comparing one's own performance against that of colleagues. * The influence of the different national systems of funding on both the amount of care provided as well as the quality of care. * The contents and the quality of the educational programmes, at all levels of orthodontic care. * Promotion of patients' rights and responsibilities before, during and after the orthodontic treatment. * A common goal and common language with the industrial partners by which the interaction can be optimised and communication will be enriched. This book provides the background information for the appropriate use of the European Orthodontic Quality Manual (EOQM). Strategies for the implementation of a QIS in orthodontics, taking into account the complex of the outlined aspects, make this book interesting for the orthodontic professional as well as the stakeholders (education, funding, industry, and consumers) in orthodontic care.

The objective of the EURO-QUAL programme has been to improve the quality of care for the individual patient. At the same time the need for harmonisation of health care in Europe was recognised. This Quality Improvement System (QIS) for orthodontic care in Europe comprises of 'Guidelines for how to implement a QIS' and reference material from the project teams: Financial Resources, Professional Development, Consumer Satisfaction, and Industrial Co-operation. In this respect the following topics are discussed: * The differences and similarities in local (national) quality initiatives. * The use of databases, as a technique to improve quality by comparing one's own performance against that of colleagues. * The influence of the different national systems of funding on both the amount of care provided as well as the quality of care. * The contents and the quality of the educational programmes, at all levels of orthodontic care. * Promotion of patients' rights and responsibilities before, during and after the orthodontic treatment. * A common goal and common language with the industrial partners by which the interaction can be optimised and communication will be enriched. This book provides the background information for the appropriate use of the European Orthodontic Quality Manual (EOQM). Strategies for the implementation of a QIS in orthodontics, taking into account the complex of the outlined aspects, make this book interesting for the orthodontic professional as well as the stakeholders (education, funding, industry, and consumers) in orthodontic care.

The Handbook of Orthodontics offers a concise and accessible overview of the scientific and clinical basis of orthodontics.This popular textbook explores the concepts of occlusion and malocclusion, craniofacial development, postnatal growth and development of the dentition. It takes the reader through the principles of patient examination, orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning - with detailed chapters on the management of malocclusion, dentofacial orthopaedics, fixed appliances, skeletal anchorage, aligner systems and orthognathic surgery. There is a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine throughout, with a dedicated chapter outlining the theoretical basis of good clinical research and critical appraisal, with summaries of the latest clinical evidence throughout the book.A clear writing style and the inclusion of over 500 high-quality illustrations make the Handbook a defining text for postgraduate students training for specialist exams and dental undergraduates wanting to learn more about clinical orthodontics. - Covers the theoretical basis of orthodontics in detail, including definitive chapters on craniofacial development, postnatal growth, development of the dentition and craniofacial syndromes. - Full coverage of clinical orthodontics including examination, diagnosis and the use of contemporary removable, fixed and clear aligner appliance systems. - Evidence-based updates are present throughout – ideal for students wanting a comprehensive overview of the latest clinical research. - Controversies and areas of special interest are covered in standalone text boxes. - Consolidated bibliography with short summaries of important papers so you can easily keep up to date. - More than 500 illustrations and photographs to help explain and illustrate specific points. - Easy to read and navigate – helps you to understand the complex concepts. - Small enough to carry around with you as a quick reference guide. - New chapters on Dentofacial orthopaedics, Skeletal anchorage and Clear aligner systems. - Over 150 new figures

The benefits for the professional working within a quality culture are manifold, but even more important, the patient is the final arbiter of quality care. Therefore patient centred aspects of treatment are focused upon in this manual. A quality manual intended for European use has to respect the national regulations and European diversity, and therefore needs to be flexible. The EOQM has been structured according to the treatment of the individual patient, which is what all professionals have in common, and which also is the most important target for quality improvement in orthodontic practice. The EOQM is primarily designed as a stimulus for the orthodontic professional to assess and improve the quality of orthodontic care. A Quality Improvement System (QIS) provides support for starting and maintaining activities. The manual provides tools to systematically assess and develop quality-related actions at individual (patient) treatment level and practice level. A systematic and comprehensive description of the treatment process is essential in order to provide a basis for establishing a QIS. Implementing a QIS will influence the provision of orthodontic care by: * Demonstrating the potentials for development of the organisational elements of orthodontics. * Planning and integrating systematic activities to monitor and improve treatment at the practice level and the patient-related level. Orthodontic treatment process is the central element in this manual. The route taken by an individual patient is described step by step. * Flowcharts describe the orthodontic treatment of the individual patient step by step. * Guidelines indicate what the professional should do at the various steps in order to follow the generally accepted objectives of orthodontics as described in the policy statements. * Indicators are tools to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment. The indicators provide the professional with facts about own performance. The EOQM, provides the orthodontic professional with a model for incorporating quality improvement into daily practice, which is based on European orthodontic consensus and current principles of quality in health care. It can be incorporated in the quality initiatives that are already being developed nationally and vice versa.

ABSTRACT: Helping patients achieve an optimal quality of life through patient-centered treatment planning should be the ultimate goal of all oral health care providers. However, this issue extends beyond the realm of the individual clinician's office. This text presents quality-of-life research from various fields, including psychology, public health, and general health care; discusses how a patient-centered approach can be applied to basic oral and craniofacial research, clinical dental practice, community dental health issues, and dental education; and addresses how oral health-related quality of life relates to treating and understanding different patient populations, such as children with special needs, medically compromised patients, patients with oral cancer, and patients with chronic facial pain. Also discussed is how factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, and age can affect oral health-related quality-of-life concerns and treatment strategies. Finally, the book offers an outlook on the role that oral health-related quality of life will play in future research and dental education.