Technicians and Dentists: A catch 22 situation?

Authors

  • Leanne M Sykes Head of Department of Prosthodontics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2002-6238
  • Charles Bradfield University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • George P Babiolakis Part-time Lecturer, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Pretoria.
  • Len Becker Department of Prosthodontics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2021/v76no7a8

Keywords:

diagnostic wax, distributive justice.

Abstract

Dental technicians who regularly receive poor quality impressions and records are often faced with professional and ethical concerns as to how to handle the situation. They may choose to complete the task to the best of their abilities. Other options are to alter the casts to try to improve the situation and then complete the prescription, contact the dentist and discuss the issue, contact
the patient, contact the medical aid, report the practitioner to the HPCSA, or refuse to do the work. Their latter actions have potentially negative implications for them, and will certainly sour working relationships. At worst, they may lose the dentist’s support. This paper explores ways in which dentists and techniciains can foster collegial and mutually beneficial relationships from early on in their careers. This will not only promote better communication, and improve the quality of work produced by them, but it will also serve the best interests of their patients and the profession as a whole.

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Published

2021-10-15

How to Cite

Sykes, L. M. ., Bradfield, . C. ., Babiolakis, . G. P. ., & Becker, L. (2021). Technicians and Dentists: A catch 22 situation?. South African Dental Journal, 76(07), 432–434. https://doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2021/v76no7a8

Issue

Vol. 76 No. 07 (2021): South African Dental Journal

Section

Ethics

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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