THE INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROSTHODONTICS AND DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Prosthodontists are often unaware of difficulties faced by dental tech nicians. Likewise, dental technicians may be unaware of difficulties f aced by prosthodontists. By being better educated about one another's discipline, prosthodontists and technicians can establish cooperative goals and help each other to identify significant facts and potential difficulties posed by specific materials, techniques, or stages of the work in progress. This article describes specific procedures for pros thesis fabrication and the opportunities each step provides for such c ooperation. The steps include diagnostic waxing, provisional restorati on, fabrication of master dies, tooth preparation, fabrication of intr aoral records, treatment waxing, selection of materials, use of cerami c mucosal simulations, and color selection. If the prosthodontist and dental technician are willing to share responsibility for treatment pl ans, their mutual understanding can bring new insight to old problems and provide intellectual stimulation to both.