Maxillofacial prosthetics: vital signs

A maxillofacial prosthetics survey was designed to record the response rate of prosthodontists regarding the frequency of maxillofacial procedures and insurance coverage in 1991. The survey explored variability with respect to membership in professional organizations, region, education, primary activity, and age of the prosthodontist. A total of 342 survey instruments were received from a total of 690 mailed. A total of 18,410 maxillofacial procedures were performed by the survey population. Members of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics performed procedures at a significantly higher rate than did the members of the American College of Prosthodontists. A greater procedure rate was observed for prosthodontists in the South Midwest and Southwestern regions; the hospital setting; with 2 plus 1 year additional postgraduate maxillofacial training; and the 45- to 54-year age group. Insurance covered most maxillofacial procedures, but was not uniformly distributed within predictor variables nor between procedures.