Variables affecting attitudes of dentists toward the use of expanded function auxiliaries.

A questionnaire survey of over 500 dentists in upstate New York was conducted to determine the following: (1) the extent to which the dentists understood the recent changes in the State Dental Practice Act as it applies to expanded functions of dental hygienists and (2) the attitudes and beliefs of these dentists regarding the use of hygienists and dental assistants in the performance of expanded duties in the private office. In general, the respondents were not familiar with the recent changes in the Dental Practice Act. When the respondents who employed dental hygienists were compared to those who did not employ hygienists, the differences regarding understanding of the changes in the act were not striking.