DENTURISTS AND ORAL HEALTH IN THE AGED

The activities of denturists have been the source of annoyance and ala rm to dentists. The dental profession has been unsuccessful in curtail ing the prosthodontic service provided by denturists directly to the p ublic despite frequent warnings about the risk to oral health. In many countries denturists have become a legitimate part of the health serv ice in competition with dentists. This article explains the historic c ircumstances leading to the widespread acceptance of denturists in Can ada in contrast to the rejection of these services in Great Britain. I t demonstrates that dentists generally were not opposed to an alternat ive complete denture service and that there is little evidence of a se rious threat to the oral health from the complete dentures made by den turists.