INTRODUCTION TO THE PROFESSION
Defining Denturism
Professional Denturists are the members of the dental health care team specifically trained and educated in the skills, knowledge and professional attitude required to provide denture services to the community.
Equipped with solid technical training as a technician, and post-technician training in sciences, clinical skills and interpersonal skills, the Denturist can design, create, construct, and modify (repair and reline) a prosthesis to ensure optimal fit, maximum comfort, and general well-being. The Denturist performs dedicated procedures as both the clinician and dental technician. He/She is better equiped to control all aspects of the creation and design of the ideal prosthesis, while enabling a cost saving to the patient.
While the term "Denturist" is a commonly used designation, internationally the profession is also referred to by a series of language-specific names, for example:
| Australia: | Dental Prosthetist |
| Belgium: | Denturist / Denturologiste |
| Canada: | Denturist / Denturologiste |
| Denmark: | Klinisk Tandtekniker |
| Finland: | Special Dental Technician / Erikoishammasteknikko |
| France: | Denturologiste |
| Germany: | Zahnporthetiker |
| Ireland: | Clinical Dental Technician |
| Malta: | Denturist |
| Netherlands: | Tandprotheticus |
| New Zeland: | Clinical Dental Technician |
| Slovakia: | Zubnych Prosthetist |
| South Africa: | Clinical Dental Technologist |
| Switzerland: | Zahnporthetiker |
| United Kingdom: | Clinical Dental Technician |
| United States: | Denturist |
SCHEDULE OF DENTURIST LAWS
Laws permitting the supply of dentures to the public without the intervention of a dentist have been passed in the following countries and states. These laws may have been challenged and amended to the advantage or detriment of the Denturist movement over the years. The schedule is not exclusive but comprises the Acts of Parliaments known at the time of printing. The figures beside each country indicate the number of Denturists licensed in that jurisdiction, at time of writing.
| (200) DENMARK Case law followed by an Act of Parliament in 1979 | 1843 |
| (200)TASMANIA, Australia | 1958 |
| (200) ZURICH, Switzerland | 1961 |
| (200) ALBERTA, Canada | 1961 |
| (200) BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada | 1962 |
| (200) FINLAND | 1964 |
| (60) MANITOBA, Canada | 1970 |
| (200) VICTORIA, Australia | 1972 |
| (400) ONTARIO, Canada | 1972 |
| (55) NOVA SCOTIA, Canada | 1973 |
| (900) QUEBEC, Canada | 1973 |
| (200) NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia | 1975 |
| (50) NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada | 1976 |
| (55) SASKATCHEWAN, Canada | 1977 |
| (40) MAINE, U.S.A. | 1977 |
| (40) ARIZONA, U.S.A. | 1978 |
| (50) COLORADO, U.S.A. | 1979 |
| (100) OREGON, U.S.A. | 1980 |
| (40) IDAHO, U.S.A. | 1982 |
| (40) MONTANA U.S.A. | 1984 |
| (200) SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 1984 |
| (25) NEWFOUNDLAND, Canada | 1984 |
| (1) YUKON TERRITORY, Canada | 1984 |
| (200) WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 1985 |
| (100) SPAIN | 1986 |
| (100) PORTUGAL | 1986 |
| (100) NEW ZEALAND | 1988 |
| (200) HOLLAND, Netherlands | 1989 |
| (200) QUEENSLAND, Australia | 1991 |
| (200) UNITED KINGDOM | 2007 |
Distinguishing Among Professionals
University-trained dentists perform the full range of services related to the patient dental health care and well being (assessment, diagnosis, treatment etc.). The scope of practice for Denturists includes clinical work, but clearly delineates and draws distinctions between adjustment and/or alteration to natural teeth/tissues of the mouth, and appliances. Denturists work with constructed or prosthetic (artificial replacement) devices only. Dental technicians, by contrast, work in laboratories and are trained to make appliances for dentists. They have neither the technical training nor the legislated mandate to work directly with patients.
