1983 JCO Orthodontic Practice Study Results
Analysis of the results of the first JCO Orthodontic Practice Study revealed the state of the specialty with regard to practice administration and economics in 1980. It also offered a blueprint for orthodontists to achieve a greater level of success in terms of higher income and number of case starts.
The chief findings of the 1981 Study were that orthodontists' incomes were increasing, but that many practices did not grow and were not busy enough. It was concluded that orthodontists were hot raising their fees enough to keep up with inflation and increased costs, were not treating enough adults, were not charging a high enough adult fee, were not using management methods and practice-building methods enough, and were not delegating enough.
After a two-year interval, JCO undertook a second Practice Study to assess the current state of the specialty, to identify trends in orthodontic economics and practice administration, to see how orthodontists responded to the challenges of the first Study, and to make a new blueprint available to guide orthodontists toward more successful practice in economic and administrative terms.
Once again, a representative number of dedicated orthodontists took the time to respond to the Study questionnaire; their effort makes it possible for JCO to report the results with reasonable certainty that they reflect the current state of the art. As promised, the results will be summarized in with Part 1 appearing in this issue and the complete results will be available in book form.
