Effect of clinician's experience and degree of difficulty on chair time for complete denture treatment

PURPOSE: The Japan Prosthodontic Society has presented a classification system for teeth defects, and partial and complete edentulism. The classification system consists of two major sections and four divisions. Within each division there are four levels, which relate to degree of difficulty of treatment: Level I: ideal or minimally compromised; Level II: moderately compromised; Level III: substantially compromised; and Level IV: severely compromised. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the clinician's experience and the classification of degree of difficulty on chair time required for complete denture treatment by conducting a self-assessment survey of dentists. METHODS: A questionnaire relating to clinician's experience (prosthodontic specialist certified or not) and the chair time required for each step of complete denture treatment was sent by post to clinicians. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 311 clinicians from 14 universities. Higher levels of difficulty required greatly increased chair time, whereas the treatment fee/hour decreased greatly. In addition, chair time required by prosthodontic specialist was short; however, chair time increased with higher levels of difficulty. CONCLUSION: Chair time and treatment number required by prosthodontic specialists (certified by Japan Prosthodontic Society) were shorter than those appertaining to non-prosthodontic specialist. However, chair time increased with Level III and Level IV by prosthodontic specialist.