Criterion based audit in prosthetic dentistry

A criterion based retrospective audit into the provision of complete dentures in an undergraduate teaching programme has been produced. This consisted of a series of questions related to the treatment of the patient and the satisfaction or otherwise expressed about the treatment. The audit revealed where treatment had been successful according to the established criteria. It has been found that an audit of this nature is demanding of clinicians' time but does show where improvements can be made in patient management which will result in better health care. Clinical audit is now recognized as forming an important part of health care. It is applicable to all areas of dentistry, ie general dental practice, the community dental services and the hospital services, and to all specialities eg prosthetics, orthodontics etc. An audit programme needs careful planning and a pilot study is worthwhile to indicate areas of difficulty. This audit has been used in an undergraduate training programme, however, the process by which the audit has been assembled is an example of how an audit could be established in any area of dentistry, provided that the criteria are modified to make them relevant to the clinical speciality.