[Cooperation between the dentist and the dental technician]

In prosthetic dentistry the final result is mainly determined by the co-operation within the team: the dentist, the implantologist, the dental technician and the patient. The technician is more and more involved in the composition and colouring of the dental restorations. In many laboratories a dental unit is available to maximise the co-operation and to involve the patient if necessary. A plea is made to develop protocols to improve the co-operation between dentist and dental technician. At the same time new communication techniques can be used such as digital photography. As the costs are often high a treatment plan and an estimate of expenditure are necessary. It is advised that the dentist asks the technician to submit an offer. The dentist should realise that patients, because of the high costs, often have great expectations of the final result, which not always can be fulfilled.