A survey of partial denture design in general dental practice

Abstract

The objects of this investigation were to discover the methods by which general dental practitioners communicated partial denture designs to dental laboratories and to ascertain the extent to which certain design criteria were being followed. The results of the survey showed that the responsibility for design appeared to be largely delegated to the technician. In most instances cobalt-chromium dentures were produced which would assist in maintaining oral health; however, this was not the case with acrylic dentures.

Why do dentists struggle with removable partial denture design? An assessment of financial and educational issues

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The provision of removable partial dentures is a basic skill that a dentist relies upon when treating partially dentate patients. 7 The General Dental Council requires all new graduates to be competent at 'designing effective indirect restorations and … partial dentures' .…”

“…It is clear that from the findings from studies performed by the authors, [1][2][3] and other investigators, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] there is a fundamental problem with the design and fabrication process of a variety of prostheses in general dental practice, most notably relating to cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures.…”

“…It is unclear whether this problem of poor prescription and fabrication of CCRPDs is primarily related to educational 5,12,15,18 or financial matters, 5,14,15,19 or both. There have been changes in the educational pathways of general dental practitioners in recent times with the introduction of specific educational guidelines for dental education, 20 Vocational Dental training, and Continuing Professional Development requirements.…”

“…[1][2][3] Various studies carried out in the United Kingdom, 3,[12][13][14][15] including a seminal investigation published by Basker et al in 1988, 15 confirm that there is a problem with CCRPD design and fabrication in the United Kingdom.…”

Partial denture design comparisons between inexperienced and experienced undergraduate students and the teaching staff of a UK dental school

“…Equally there have been a number of surveys which show that in many cases the technicians are asked to design the RPD by the clinician 3,10 and this appears to have been a long standing problem. 14 Previous studies 15 have been carried out which compared the qualifi ed dental surgeons' ability to design partial dentures and communicate the design to the dental technician. The fi ndings showed that newly qualifi ed dental surgeons were more likely to provide designs which were understood by the technician than those surgeons who had been qualifi ed longer.…”