Download THE ROLE OF DENTAL TECHNOLOGY IN ORAL HEALTH CARE

THE ROLE OF DENTAL TECHNOLOGY IN ORAL HEALTH
CARE
Introduction:
 Dental laboratory technology is the art and science of
designing, manufacturing and customizing corrective devises
and replacement for natural teeth and associated tissues.
 A Dental Technologist is a member of the dental team who,
upon prescription from a dental clinician, constructs custom
made restorative and dental appliances.
WHY Dental prostheses?
 Mastication; as chewing ability is improved
 Aesthetics; teeth gives a natural appearance to the face, and wearing
a denture to replace missing teeth provides support for the lips and
cheeks.
 Pronunciation; because replacing missing teeth, especially
the anteriors, enables patients to speak better.
 Self-esteem; because improved looks and speech boost confidence in
the ability to interact socially
 There are four major disciplines within dental
technology:
1. Fixed restorations/prosthesis: These are restorations to replace
a tooth/teeth that may have been lost or damaged. These restorations
once placed by a dentist, the patient cannot remove them.
Examples: crowns, bridges, veneers, fixed implant restorations,
inlays and onlays.
Before
After
 Examples: crowns, bridges, veneers, fixed implant restorations,
inlays and onlays.

Before
After

Before
After
 2. Removable restorations/prosthesis: These are dental
appliances that replace one or more teeth that have been completely
lost. They can be removed by the patient for cleaning and at night.
Examples: Full dentures, partial dentures and over dentures.
More Examples: Full dentures, partial dentures and over dentures.
3. Maxillofacial Prosthesis:
These are prosthesis that manages replacement and restoration of lost
or missing structures and functions in the head and neck region with
artificial substitutes.
Examples: Eyes, nose and ears.
3. Maxillofacial Prosthesis:
Examples: Eyes, nose and ears.
Before
After
 4. Orthodontic appliances and auxiliaries:
These are removable appliance made of wires, springs and screws
incorporated in acrylic resin, to move teeth to form a more harmonious
occlusion and aesthetics appearance of teeth and maintain the position
of previously moved teeth.
 Example: Hawley’s appliance, expansion appliances and space
maintainers.
 4. Orthodontic appliances and auxiliaries – Cont.
 More Example: Hawley’s appliance, expansion appliances and space
maintainers.
 Challenges:
 Cost of machinery and equipment involved in the production of the
prosthesis.
 Lack of further training.
 Genuine lack of interaction between dental technicians and dentists.
 Lack of awareness by the public of dental technology services.
 Lack of legal framework for dental technology practice – leading to
spread of quacks
 Conclusion:
 Training opportunities in specialized areas
 The Dental Technologists as part of the dental team play a key role in
dental treatment cycle.
 There is need for dentists/dental surgeons to collaborate closely with
dental technologists in the treatment and design of prostheses.
 Provision of relevant equipment/machines and laboratory work
instruments
 Procurement of key materials in specialized areas like maxillo-facial
prosthetics
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