The responsibility of the dentist toward laboratory procedures in fixed and removable partial denture prosthesis

Abstract

I F IT were put as a question, “What is the responsibility of the dentist toward laboratory procedures in fixed and removable partial denture prosthesis?“, the answer would be, “complete responsibility.” The next question might be, “To assume this responsibility, what must he do ?” He must perform all portions of the treatment which require his special skill and knowledge and he may delegate that which he wishes to the hands of others, but he must supervise and direct what he delegates. In this day, great concern is being given to the manpower problem in dentistry and to the impending shortage of adequate dental care that is accompanying the population explosion. The education of a sufficient number of dentists to meet anticipated needs seems to be impracticable, and the most feasible solution seems to be in the greater utilization of auxiliary personnel to relieve the dentist of routine procedures which can be delegated to others. Rockefeller, the Senior, when questioned on how he had achieved his success, replied that he never did what he could hire someone else to do. Basically, that is what dentistry must do to provide the public with the service that it is demanding from the profession. The dental profession should and does support every effort on the part of dental assistants, hygienists, and laboratory technicians in the direction toward increasing their numbers, skills, and proficiency. Full use of their abilities will help immeasurably in resolving our manpower problems.