Complete denture education in U.S. dental schools.

PURPOSE: In 2001, a survey of U.S. dental schools was conducted to determine curricular content, teaching philosophies, and techniques used in clinical complete denture programs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was mailed to the chairperson of the prosthodontic/restorative department of 54 U.S. dental schools. Of these, 44 schools returned the completed survey, resulting in a response rate of 82%. The mean, median, and range of responses were computed where applicable.

RESULTS: Results from this survey show that a large majority of schools are using similar materials in clinical complete denture treatment: irreversible hydrocolloid for preliminary impression (87%); light-cured composite resin for record base fabrication (70%); a semiadjustable articulator (98%); and semianatomic posterior tooth form used exclusively or in combination with other tooth forms (75%). In addition, a large majority of schools are using similar techniques in clinical complete denture treatment: use of a protrusive record (80%); use of extra-oral measurements, speech, and esthetics for establishing the occlusal vertical dimension (59%); use of the conventional compression molding method for processing complete dentures (82%); occlusal equilibration and face-bow preservation (75%); and the clinical remount procedure (91%). A quality control program is present for cases sent to and returned from the laboratory in 73% and 84% of responding schools, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinical complete denture predoctoral programs vary from school to school, yet a large percentage of schools agree on many topics. Only 55% of schools reported incorporating new educational materials such as the use of dental implants and treatment of patients with implant-retained overdentures at the predoctoral level. Sixteen percent are allowing students to graduate without a set number of required complete dentures as has traditionally been the case. Sixteen percent are using newer techniques such as injection molding and microwave processing technique in addition to the conventional processing technique.