Problems in restorative dentistry: who copes with them?

The views of general dental practitioners, practising in part of the Yorkshire Region, as to how they would cope with a variety of restorative problems were sought using a questionnaire. If advice or advice and treatment were to be requested from a consultant in restorative dentistry, the questionnaire was designed to discover whether the distance from a hospital created a barrier to the preferred course of action. Only one-third of the dentists were happy to treat a troublesome complete denture case, provide a replacement obturator or look after a natural dentition with considerable periodontal problems. Travel constraints were particularly apparent when it came to seeking help for the elderly edentulous patient. The results of the study indicate that in the Yorkshire Region, there is a high level of demand for consultant advice and treatment for a number of common restorative problems.