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Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Jan 2003In several countries removable dentures can be supplied by either dentists or denturists. Dental laboratory technicians, on the other hand, are licensed only to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
In several countries removable dentures can be supplied by either dentists or denturists. Dental laboratory technicians, on the other hand, are licensed only to construct dentures on the prescription of a dentist and do not supply dentures directly to patients. This study investigates provision of dentures by dentists, denturists and laboratory technicians to 264 elderly Finnish World War II veterans. The veterans were wearing 454 removable dentures, of which 272 were complete dentures (CD) and 177 were removable partial dentures (RPD). Dentists had supplied one-quarter of the CD and three-quarters of the RPD, denturists had supplied two-thirds of the CD and one-fifth of the RPD, whereas the dental laboratory technicians had supplied the remaining seven per cent of the CD and four per cent of the RPD. Denturists had provided mainly mandibular partial dentures. A high proportion of the RPD provided illegally by denturists were made to oppose CD. The subjects reported that maxillary CD were good or very good more often than mandibular CD and considered more often CD by dentists or denturists good or very good than CD by dental laboratory technicians.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dental Technicians; Dentists; Denture Design; Denture, Partial, Removable; Denturists; Finland; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction
PubMed: 12485384
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2842.2003.00987.x -
Stomatologiia 2002
Review
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Cooperative Behavior; Dentists; Denturists; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Orthodontics; Workplace
PubMed: 12380303
DOI: No ID Found -
Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Mar 2002The aim of this study was to investigate cooperation between dentists and denturists in Finland, particularly in relation to perceived competition between the two...
The aim of this study was to investigate cooperation between dentists and denturists in Finland, particularly in relation to perceived competition between the two professions. From a representative sample of 350 private dentists and 253 denturists, 68% returned acceptably filled-in questionnaires dealing with competition and cooperation with other healthcare professionals. Dentists referred their patients significantly (P < 0.001) less often to denturists (26.2%) than denturists did to dentists (94.1%). Those who referred their patients to members of the other profession also received patients from the other profession significantly (P< 0.001) more often than those who did not (60.7% vs 16.7% among dentists; 90.0% vs 44.4% among denturists). Denturists saw themselves as competing with dentists (56.0%) significantly (P< 0.001) more often than dentists did with denturists (29.2%). Dentists practicing in small towns or rural areas cooperated more often with denturists than did those practicing in more urban areas. Among denturists, the likelihood of referring patients to dentists was associated with younger age and fewer clinical working hours. It was concluded that cooperation between dentists and denturists was common. Oral healthcare professionals who referred their patients to the other profession also benefited by receiving more patients on referral from them. Dental services provided by denturists are limited, which may explain their greater willingness to cooperate with dentists.
Topics: Age Factors; Chi-Square Distribution; Confidence Intervals; Cooperative Behavior; Dentists; Denturists; Economic Competition; Female; Finland; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Pilot Projects; Private Practice; Referral and Consultation; Rural Population; Statistics as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Urban Population
PubMed: 12020122
DOI: 10.1080/000163502753509491 -
SADJ : Journal of the South African... Sep 2001
Topics: Dentures; Denturists; Feasibility Studies; Health Planning Guidelines; Health Policy; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Mouth, Edentulous; Public Opinion; South Africa; Technology, Dental; Workforce
PubMed: 11697160
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of the American Geriatrics... Jul 2001To examine whether functional ability at age 75 and age 80 is associated with oral health and use of dental services cross-sectionally and whether changes in functional...
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether functional ability at age 75 and age 80 is associated with oral health and use of dental services cross-sectionally and whether changes in functional ability from age 75 to age 80 are associated with oral health and regular use of dental services at age 80.
DESIGN
The study included a random sample of 75-year-olds at baseline and a follow-up study 5 years later. The data are treated as two cross-sectional studies at age 75 and 80, respectively, and as a longitudinal study from age 75 to 80.
SETTING
The western part of Copenhagen County.
PARTICIPANTS
The two cross-sectional studies of 75- and 80-year-old people included 411 and 321 persons, respectively. The longitudinal study from age 75 to 80 included the 326 persons who participated in both surveys.
MEASUREMENTS
Oral health status was measured roughly by number of teeth and chewing ability. Use of dental services was measured by frequency of visits to a dentist or denturist. Functional ability was measured by two scales on mobility in relation to tiredness and need of help. Changes in mobility from age 75 to 80 is described as (1) improved or sustained good, (2) decreased, and (3) sustained poor. Gender, chronic diseases, self-rated health, socio-demographic factors, living alone, and social relations were included as possible confounders.
RESULTS
The odds ratio of having no or few teeth was 1.7 (1.1-2.6) in 75-year-old individuals who felt tired in mobility, 1.7 (1.0-2.9) in 80-year-old persons who needed help with mobility, and 2.7 (0.94-7.5) in persons with sustained need of help with mobility from age 75 to 80. The odds ratio of chewing difficulties was 1.7 (1.1-2.8) in 80-year-old people in need of help, and 1.8 (1.1-3.0) in persons age 75 to 80 needing sustained help. Dentate 80-year-old persons who felt tired in mobility had an odds ratio of 2.0 (0.94-4.2) of not using dental services.
CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that oral impairment (e.g., having no or few teeth), oral functional limitations (e.g., chewing problems), and general functional limitations (e.g., mobility problems) are interrelated and that prevention of disabilities should be aimed at both functional limitations and oral health problems if the intention is to promote a good life in old age. In addition, the results point to the importance of taking problems in mobility seriously in delivering preventive services to old people because people who are tired or dependent on help seem to be at a higher risk of not using dental services regularly.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Age Distribution; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Denmark; Dental Health Services; Dental Health Surveys; Educational Status; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Income; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Oral Health; Sex Distribution
PubMed: 11527488
DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49187.x -
Journal of Dental Technology : the... Apr 2000HB 238 has been reported favorably to the floor of the House of Representatives by the Committee on Licensing and Occupations, but has not yet been acted upon by the...
HB 238 has been reported favorably to the floor of the House of Representatives by the Committee on Licensing and Occupations, but has not yet been acted upon by the full House. When asked whether he thought his legislation would be approved, Representative Burch said he thought the bill had a "50-50" chance of passing the Kentucky legislature this year. Sources within the Kentucky dental laboratory and dental communities disagree on the legislation's chances for passage. Some within the industry feel the legislation simply does not have enough votes to pass the General Assembly, primarily because of opposition from the Kentucky Dental Association. Others speculate that the bill has a better opportunity to be approved this year than it did in the previous years when it was introduced. The Kentucky General Assembly adjourns its session for the year 2000 on April 12, so there will be a quick answer to the question of whether HB 238 will be approved. The May issue of this column will provide details.
Topics: Dentists; Dentures; Denturists; Humans; Kentucky; Laboratories, Dental; Licensure; Pilot Projects
PubMed: 11324074
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Dental Technology : the... May 2000The Kentucky study goes on to discuss the economic issues surrounding denturism, including the cost of dentures, insurance coverage and governmental savings through...
The Kentucky study goes on to discuss the economic issues surrounding denturism, including the cost of dentures, insurance coverage and governmental savings through Medicaid. The report also includes a section on public health issues. That section covers competency, analysis of risks and oral health. The final section of the research study explores the various policy options open to the Kentucky General Assembly.
Topics: Canada; Certification; Dentures; Denturists; Humans; Kentucky; Licensure; United States
PubMed: 11323917
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Dental Technology : the... Jun 2000
Topics: Dentists; Denturists; Humans; Laboratories, Dental; Licensure; Missouri
PubMed: 11323850
DOI: No ID Found -
Probe (Ottawa, Ont.) 1999A questionnaire and oral screening were conducted with seniors in a rural Alberta health authority to determine their oral health needs. Both the dentate and the...
A questionnaire and oral screening were conducted with seniors in a rural Alberta health authority to determine their oral health needs. Both the dentate and the edentulous had high levels of treatment need. Of the dentate respondents, 41.8 percent had coronal caries, averaging .88 caries per dentate person. All dentate respondents had calculus and/or pocketing as measured by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Among denture wearers, 64.4 percent were found to have calculus on one or both dentures, and 61.2 percent of lower dentures exhibited poor retention. In assessing their own oral health, 76.4 percent rated themselves somewhere between good and excellent. Among the dentate, 83.6 percent brushed daily; however 57 percent never flossed. Although 40.6 percent had been to a dentist/denturist within the last year, 70.1 percent saw a dentist/denturist only when they experienced pain or problems. Of those who had not been to a dentist/denturist within a year, 83.9 percent said the primary reason was because there was nothing wrong. Although treatment needs in this group were high, lasting change in the oral health status of this group requires more than immediate treatment. Enduring effects can only be facilitated by educating seniors as to what optimal oral health is, appropriate preventive behaviours, and the effective use of available professional services. Unless these issues are addressed there is not likely to be a great deal of improvement within each cohort.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alberta; Dental Care for Aged; Dental Caries; Dental Deposits; Dentures; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Oral Hygiene; Periodontal Index; Rural Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 10752469
DOI: No ID Found -
The New Zealand Dental Journal Jun 2000The Dental Act 1988 included requirements for the registration of clinical dental technicians, a new category of dental health worker. Despite the Act containing...
The Dental Act 1988 included requirements for the registration of clinical dental technicians, a new category of dental health worker. Despite the Act containing provision for a course of training in clinical dental technology, 11 years elapsed before the first candidates would graduate in this discipline. This paper describes the development and implementation of the new Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology, PGDipCDTech(Otago). Diplomates of the inaugural course in 1999 were the first students, other than students of dentistry, to obtain a clinical qualification from the School of Dentistry. Overall the course was very successful, but the provisions of the Dental Act inhibit flexible approaches to the teaching of clinical dental technology.
Topics: Credentialing; Denture, Complete; Denturists; Education, Dental; Education, Graduate; Humans; New Zealand; Technology, Dental
PubMed: 10916361
DOI: No ID Found