A denturist, clinical dental technician or (in Australia) a dental prosthetist, is a member of the oral health care team who provides an oral health examination, takes impressions of the surrounding oral tissues, constructs and delivers removable oral prosthesis (dentures and partial dentures) directly to the patient.[1]
Traditional duties
According to the United States National Denturist Association website, denturists can perform the following functions:
1. Perform a complete visual/digital oral examination and evaluation of the patient. This includes obtaining a complete medical and dental history of the patient.
2. Make impressions, make necessary jaw relation records, select artificial teeth, design the dentures.
3. Fabricate and insert dentures in the mouths of patients.
4. Perform any adjunctive services such as repair dentures, relines and adjustments of removable dentures.
5. Supervise auxiliary personnel in the performance of their delegated duties.
Further, in some Canadian jurisdictions, (see http://www.collegeofabdenturists.ca), denturists can additionally do the following:
6. Treat traumatized oral tissues.
7. Order radiographs.
8. Provide implant supported dental prosthesis,both fixed or removable.
9. Provide sports mouthguards.
10. Provide anti-bruxism (night guard) devices.
11. Provide tooth-whitening services.
12. Creating clone of your denture (denture cloning
.
