The Perception of Dental Practitioners on Laboratory Management for Effective Dental Health Care Delivery: A Case Study of Some Selected Dental Laboratories in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the management of dental laboratory as it significantly affects effective handling of dental problems among dental patients visiting Dental Hospitals/Centres and consequently for effective dental healthcare delivery system in Lagos State as a case study.
 Methodology: One hundred (100) dental professionals working in the selected twenty (20) dental hospital/centres across the study area were selected surveyed through a purposive sampling technique. The research instruments used for study were self-opinionated questionnaires and Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat SWOT analysis.
 Finding: The results showed that state of the laboratories need to be improved in order to meet current global standards of digital state of equipments, then management of the laboratory with the perception of the staff influence the quality of dental care services given to the patients. The SWOT analysis indicated that opportunities within the profession is the adequacy of training and professionalism, while danger of quack workers, obsolete equipment, erratic power supply to run the equipment and lack of government enabling environment are threat and weakness that affect the dental laboratory activities. The study concluded that state of dental laboratory still need more improvement with the use of modern and digital equipments, and the workers re-training are the strengths and opportunities .Therefore, there is need for workshop, conferences and to educate the professional on the latest equipment in the markets on a global level. Then, the Government should embark on infrastructural development of the existing governmental dental facilities and encourage the private ones.