Are dentists prepared for denture care?
Given the uncertainty over whether or not dentures are on their way out, there is some speculation as to whether or not dental students are receiving enough training on this procedure. Richard Weaver, Associate Director, Center for Educational Policy and Research at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), says that while denture work will stay a part of the core curriculum, there has been some discussion among dental school deans regarding how much time should be devoted to the topic. In light of anecdotal reports found by the Harvard authors that dental schools are having trouble finding complete denture patients for students to treat, its educational de-emphasis would seem to make sense. There is a perception among many dental professionals that their new colleagues are coming out of dental school with an insufficient educationboth clinically and in terms of classroom instructionon how to perform denture work. But is this true? According to the American Dental Associations
