title: Perceptions of Private Dental Practitioners of Specialist Prosthodontic Dental Services in Gujarat: A Survey.
abstract: To identify the perceptions towards and utilization of specialist Prosthodontic services among Private Dental Practitioners (PDPs) of Gujarat state. To study the influence of presence or absence of a Prosthodontic post graduate course during the PDP's dental education and years of experience in practice on the decisions to treat Prosthodontic cases themselves or to utilise Prosthodontic speciality services. A postal questionnaire examined by a panel of Prosthodontists, piloted on 15 PDPs, was sent to 150 randomly selected private dental practitioners of Gujarat state. The collected data were subjected to descriptive and Chi-square statistical analysis. Though 78.64 % dentists considered the treatment provided by the Prosthodontist to be effective, only 34.95 % of them availed their services. 33 % PDPs without a Prosthodontic post graduate course in their institute were significantly more likely to refer patients to a Prosthodontist. Years of experience had no influence on utilization of Prosthodontic speciality service. 18.44 % PDPs had a Prosthodontic speciality clinic in their region, 65.04 % did not have, whereas 11.65 % were not aware of such clinic. PDPs have high regards for the Prosthodontic speciality but their reported demand was less as compared to other specialities indicating a need for the Prosthodonitst to put in efforts to make the PDPs aware of their services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India ; The Smile Makers Dental Clinic, 108, Neelkanth Plaza, Bhattha, Paldi, Ahmedabad, 7 Gujarat India.
authors.forename: Rachana J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: The Smile Makers Dental Clinic, 108, Neelkanth Plaza, Bhattha, Paldi, Ahmedabad, 7 Gujarat India.
authors.forename: Sujal G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Sneha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Cliantha Research Ltd, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Ghanshyam C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Patel
keywords: Consultant; Gujarat; Private Dental Practitioner; Prosthodontic speciality service; Survey