title: Removable prosthodontic services, including implant-supported overdentures, provided by dentists and denturists.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the provision of removable prosthodontic services, including implant-supported overdentures, by dentists and denturists. A structured questionnaire was mailed to 474 randomly chosen dentists and 156 denturists registered to practise in New Zealand. Information was sought on the range of removable prosthodontic services provided (including implant-supported overdentures) and the professional fees charged for them. From 410 respondents, there was an overall response rate of 67.43%; 290 came from the dentists (males 78.6%, n = 228; females 21.48%, n = 62) and 120 from denturists (males 91.7%, n = 110; females 8.3%, n = 10). Most respondents were over 40 years of age, with one in three denturists (but only one in seven dentists) over 60 years of age. The extent of removable prosthodontic services varied. One-third of dentists referred complete denture patients and denturists referred a similar number of immediate denture cases. Denturists' complete denture, immediate denture and single reline prices were generally lower than those from dentists. Removable partial denture prices were similar. Implant-supported overdentures were recommended for edentulous patients by one-third of the dentists and three out of four denturists. Forty per cent of denturists (but only 10% of dentists) charged <NZ$1000 for complete dentures. (1NZ$ = US$ 0.75; 1NZ$ = euro 0.56; 1NZ$ = GBP 0.38) Implant-supported overdenture fees were predominantly in the range of NZ$1500-3000 for both groups, but one in four dentists and one in six denturists charged more than NZ$3000. Although both denturists and dentists both provide prosthodontic services, there is a professional fee differential between them. Denturists' lower fees provide a more economic option. Denturists are likely to steadily develop further inroads into the implant-supported overdenture market.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: A G T
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003815:Dentists; D003835:Denturists; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011476:Prosthodontics