The role of specialists and general practitioners in provision of prosthodontic services.
The national situation regarding prosthodontic services is being shaped by the following factors: There is an increasing number of people in the 60-, 70-, and 80-year-old age group. There is less dental caries, which has resulted in more teeth in the adult population. There is less gingivitis, but it is unclear whether this factor is significant. There is an ongoing debate about the continued prevalence and severity of periodontitis, but with more teeth and more older adults there appears to be a great potential for an increase in the total amount of advanced periodontal disease. There is somewhat less total edentulism. There is a substantial unmet need for complete dentures as well as fixed and removable partial dentures. In summary, the stage is set for an increased demand for prosthodontic services.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011476:Prosthodontics; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology