Improving the quality of fixed prosthodontic services.

I have discussed only the three problems most frequently mentioned by laboratory technicians in the Lab Management Today survey. In my opinion, there are many more areas in fixed prosthodontics that need attention. To achieve this, we must improve the quality of the procedures we use in creating fixed prostheses. Laboratory technicians observe the quality of impressions, tooth preparations and interocclusal records that are sent to them by the dentists with whom they work. Their statements about the need for improvement on several of the aspects of the clinical procedure are of concern. It is dentists' professional responsibility to upgrade their clinical techniques so that they produce high-quality impressions of adequate tooth preparations and transfer information about the proper interocclusal relationship to the dental technician.