Variability in complete denture assessment

This paper reports variation in complete denture assessment between three groups of examiners, viz. general dental practitioners (GDPs), teachers of prosthetic dentistry and undergraduate students. A panel of three patients was assembled; each member wore complete dentures with specific faults. A short questionnaire was prepared covering the basic parameters of complete denture design; comments were also invited on desirability of denture renewal. The panel was examined by 30 GDPs, 30 students and 10 teachers. For the parameters, jaw relationship and need for renewal, there was little inter- or intra-group variation. However, for freeway space 90 per cent of the teachers agreed on the estimation of this parameter for each panel member but only 26 per cent of GDPs and 46 per cent of the students had similar findings.