title: A survey of the UK maxillofacial laboratory service: profiles of staff and work.
abstract: We sent questionnaires to 98 maxillofacial laboratories in the United Kingdom and asked about the composition of their staff, the kind of work that they do, and their activities in relation to the treatment of disfigured patients who require facial and body prostheses. We received 59 replies about 193 laboratory staff, most of whom had 10 or more years experience and held basic and advanced qualifications in dental technology. Most laboratories did all sorts of work including maxillofacial, orthodontic, dental prosthetic and crown and bridge work. Only five confined themselves to maxillofacial work. One hundred and eighteen staff (61%) had contact with 4,259 disfigured patients who required prostheses. Fifty-three laboratory managers (89%) thought that maxillofacial prosthetists and technologists gave psychological support to these patients, but only 12 laboratories (21%) had staff with formal training in counselling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Dental Care, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cannavina
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kent
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003800:Dental Technicians; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007754:Laboratories, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008447:Maxillofacial Prosthesis; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000193:education; D006113:United Kingdom; D014937:Work; D000078329:Workforce