Quality Management in Orthodontic Practice

Recently, systematic quality management has gradually attained a more significant role in the work of health care organizations. In this article a brief description of various models of quality management is given, such as Total Quality Management (TQM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), and accreditation. Their common philosophy is the nonhierarchical approach with emphasis on defining management as a supporting process. The models assume a customer-driven organization in which continuous improvement is an important aspect. Quality concepts and standardized protocols are increasingly implemented to structure the organization of orthodontic practice. Applicability of these models in the field of orthodontics and their influence on treatment outcome is reviewed.