COMPLETE DENTURE PRESCRIPTION - AN AUDIT OF PERFORMANCE

The quality of clinical records obtained during the various stages of complete denture construction was assessed in a survey conducted in fi ve large dental laboratories in 1989. The most common fault in approxi mately half of 188 upper and 158 lower impressions was overextension i n the labial and buccal sulci. Of the 87 occlusal records examined, th e rims indicated the intended incisal relationship in about 50% of cas es. The border of the eventual denture was defined by the technician r ather than by the dentist in most instances. The post-dam was prescrib ed by the dentist in only 16% of the 50 trial dentures inspected. It i s argued that a major cause of the lack of prescription is the level o f the NHS fee, coupled with the fact that the laboratory expenses are deducted from that fee.