The Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-01-04, Page 14e�.
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1:41f" le-1ekaew Sentinel. W. y, istasary 4, 1989
Al OF DIMES
0 44E6
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Rates for 35
Trust Companies
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THE EDITOR
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Wheat is a denture therapist?
Dear Sir:
A Denture Therapist is' the generally
unknown, new professional member of the
dental tears. He/she is licensed by the
Government of Ontario since 1974, will
make & fit the new full dentures, reline or
repair existing ones directly to the public,
without the Dentist as a middleman. Fr »n
1971 to 1974, we were known as Dentutists.
We have 4 different primo for dentures
to choose from. The various prices reflect
for the most part labour. It is the time
(labour) we take to fuss to try to be precise
when tang the two impression, bite
registration, etc., that justifies the dif-
ference in price.
It is not the piece of porcelain or plastic
the size of a tooth or for the plastic in the
dentures that justifies the price difference
in the various priced dentures. Although
you would get the better teeth and
material in the more expensive denture.
It take 4 appointments or about 1 week
(usually) to make New Dentures. Reline in.
1 day or less. Repair 1 hour or less.
It is important to have your dentures ex-
amined
aamined regularly. Your moah is one of the
most important parts of your body. Most
people keep their dentures too long.
We t l our. fm*i. 'ts that
-:tu es,'are .t ant to last indefinitely.
The teeth and base on your denture will
wear or stain. The tissues, gums and bones
of the mouth are constantly undergoing
changes, so the dentures will need to be ad-
justed, rebased or remade from time to
time. The average life of a denture is about
6 to 9 years and they should be relined
every 3 to 5 years.
Most Dental Insuran allows and
covers c -f+ ew-1 enturesevery 5
years, and relines every 2 years. Check
with your Denture Insurance as to how
often they allow new dentures or relining
your present dentures.
The Act provided that a qualified Den-
ture Therapist might produce from begin-
ning to end the upper or lower prosthetic
denture, or both and complete all such
work in his office free of the supervision of
a Dentist. Denture Therapists are also
licensed to make and fit partial dentures
as well, providing that the impressions and
fitting of the partial denture takes place in
a dental office,under the supervision of a
Dentist. All other work in connection with
the partial denture may be done in the of-
fice of the Denture Therapist.
The problem is, that the Royal College of
Dental Surgeons and the Dentists
themselves, have failed completely to co-
operate in giving supervision to the Den-
ture
eo-ture Therapist and accordingly the whole
intent of the Act,- with respect to partial
dentures, is being frustrated Dentists
perceive the practice of the Denture
Therapist as infringing upon the practice
of dentistry and do not accept such "para
deities".
Eight or nine of the Ontario Ministers of
Health since 1974 have made several
statements to the effect that the issue of
partial dentures will soon be successfully
resolved., but to date have taken no action
to implement changes in the legislation.
In Ontario,Denturists have been supply-
ing direct to the .Public Denture Services
since 1971. This includes partial dentures.
Denture Therapists are technically com-
petent to make partial dentures and have
been doing so for years. Unless Dente
cooperate, the Act trust be changed. The
main issue is Dewson. The
battle between Dentists &pists is not
yet ever. This bas lead to suspension of
Therapists, suspension of Therapist's
lice ber.asue they have tired of waiting
forthe promised changes in the law.
Dentists no longer have a monopoly to
sell Woe teeth and for the Mime there
is another authority critikhgng denture
fabrication produced by Dentists, thus
even, the Dentist attempts at dentures are
imiwoved Denturepapist have for .the past
several years in their practise as a Den-
ture -Therapist, made partial dentures
since they could no obtain any supervising
Dentist. Denture TbAN.love sent lout
hof. �'{�wits to forsupec-
vising a
lheraPY-
Tat is page 154