Supply and demand for prosthetic treatment in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Surveys were conducted in Victoria, Australia, to estimate the demand for prosthetic treatment by examining the needs of a randomly selected group of the population. Similar surveys were conducted in relation to the contribution made by the dentists in Victoria and also that of a recently introduced group of workers, the Advanced Dental Technicians. It was found that approximately 19% of the population required prosthetic treatment in the full denture field and that the existing dentists were not meeting this need. When the Advanced Dental Technicians are more fully engaged in clinical work, the need may well be met.