Introduction
The dental prosthetic has the role of helping the dentist restore the patient’s masticatory and aesthetic capacity through dental prostheses. It is the who makes, with specific materials determined by the dentist, the prosthesis that will replace the lost tooth (Clarke et al., 2021). The current great demand for oral aesthetics makes dental prosthesis services increasingly required. The dental prosthetic is the professional who deals directly with the manufacture of materials requested by the dentist to return aesthetics and masticatory function to the patient (Clarke et al., 2021). They are regulated by practice law which addresses the competence of technicians and limitations imposed on aspects that refer to professional practice. The technician’s work as Dental Prosthetist requires a lot of dexterity to produce parts with specific techniques. This paper discusses the scope, ethics, professionalism, and registration standards for dental prosthetists.
Scope
The Dental Prosthesis Technician is the health professional who works with the dentist to restore the patient’s masticatory and aesthetic capacity through dental prostheses. The current great demand for body and oral aesthetics makes TPD services increasingly required. These professionals are responsible for developing dentures, crowns, and movable bridges (Thomas et al., 2018). The dental technician course is offered for a minimum of two years. It is divided into three modules and offers activities contributing to learning and developing skills. In case of studies, problem posing, research in different sources, contact with companies and specialists in the area, technical visits, lectures with specialists, activities in the prosthesis laboratory, and project development. As a dental prosthetist, it is possible to work in a laboratory environment, as well as in educational institutions, teaching classes for specific groups of this nature and even public lectures on the subject. Thomas et al. (2018) indicate that at the beginning of the current decade, 20 thousand professionals were working in 7 thousand laboratories. For this reason, training as a dental technician is an advantageous qualification with a receptive market for new professionals.
The demand for this profession has increased throughout the Australian territory. However, the current legislation does not allow technicians to maintain direct contact with patients and prohibits the advertisement of professional services to the lay public. Molding and manipulation of parts such as crowns and movable bridges, among others, are part of the routine of dental technicians who have been improving with increasingly developed techniques (Thomas et al., 2018). It is up to dental prosthetists to perform in a laboratory environment, among other activities. Some of their roles include dental waxing and sculpting; manufacturing complete, fixed, and flexible metal-ceramic, ceramic, porcelain, resin, and other dentures; manufacturing orthodontic appliances, dental whitening plates, and bruxism plates. According to the regulatory agency, this professional is prohibited from providing direct or indirect assistance to patients without the supervision of a dentist (Thomas et al., 2018). Further, they are prohibited from keeping equipment and instruments specific to professionals who work in the dental office and performing any procedure in the patient’s oral cavity.
Ethics
Professional ethics is essential to direct social relationships and everything that involves the other. As ethics are recommended in other medical practices, the situation is similar in dentistry. Therefore, ethics in dentistry is important and necessary for the dentist to perform the profession in a beneficial way for both patients and society. The perception of patients about the conduct of dentists will always bring an ethical judgment since it concerns the function of these professionals as promoters of health and well-being (Newbrun, 2007). It is important to highlight that this field of philosophy is dedicated to the moral principles and values that govern human actions, aiming at a more egalitarian, productive, and, consequently, healthier society. First, those who take care of oral health have to like people. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the ethical and legal rules of the activity are met (Newbrun, 2007). Ethics in Dentistry is essential to prevent dentists from committing ethical violations that could result in future harm to both the patient and the professional.
In this way, the dentist helps to ensure the good image and prestige of the profession. The dentist must demand the appropriate conditions to conduct treatments ethically without omitting information about the possible risks involved in certain procedures. On the other hand, a dentist should never perform unnecessary treatments or treatments for which he is not qualified. It is also necessary that the medical records comply with the governing rules to facilitate the updating and interpretation by colleagues in the profession (Bruscino, 2012). The Dental Ethics Code regulates the rights and duties of the dentist, technical and auxiliary professionals, and legal entities that carry out activities in the area of Dentistry, the scope of public and private. Dentistry is a profession exercised to benefit the health of the human being, the community, and the environment, without discrimination in any way or pretext.
The main goal of all dental care is to provide quality human health. It will be up to dental professionals to direct actions aimed at satisfying the population’s health needs and defending the principles of public health and environmental policies (Bruscino, 2012). In such a way, they guarantee universal access to health services, the integrality of health care, preservation of the autonomy of individuals, community participation, hierarchy, and political-administrative decentralization of health services (Bruscino, 2012). Moreover, dentists should respect the patient’s autonomy to allow them to make decisions. Therefore, dentists should consult patients before performing any health procedure or treatment. Dentists should uphold the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, which requires professionals to acquire rigorous education and professional practice before handling patients (Bruscino, 2012). These regulatory measures prevent and minimize cases of unprofessional treatments in dentistry. Further, dentists should uphold justice to their patients by respecting their rights and acceptable moral laws. This ensures they respect patients’ health information confidentiality and conduct fair treatments.
Professionalism
Professional conduct is vital for dental prosthetists to deliver quality, evidence-based patient care. Professionalism has historically focused on dentists’ standards, beliefs, and conduct during their daily practice in Europe (Zijlstra‐Shaw et al., 2012). Over the last 25 years, professionalism has become an increasingly significant component of medical and dentistry (Zijlstra‐Shaw et al., 2012). This is believed to be the result of extensive societal changes, such as media attention to health care, particularly concerning high-profile cases, increased information accessibility online, and alterations in the culture of patient care. Professionalism needs to be upheld in dentistry regarding teamwork and changes to regulatory bodies brought about by governmental pressures (Zijlstra‐Shaw et al., 2012). Consequently, the emphasis on dentistry education has grown, and professionalism is now a key component of both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Dental prosthetists should operate within the bounds of their profession by exercising their profession safely and effectively, prioritizing the standard of patient care, and adhering to all laws and procedures. The patient, however, should never be argued with. Additionally, it is critical to respect the patient’s dignity and maintain the privacy of their personal information (Zijlstra‐Shaw et al., 2012). Working well with other dental team members is critical to being trustworthy and maintaining proper limits in patient interactions. All dental practitioners must adhere to new standards that the ADA has devised. The organization sets dental professionals’ ethics, performance, and behavior requirements. It outlines the values, norms, and instructions that apply to every member of the dental team as well as what patients can anticipate from their dental experts. All dental team members must adhere to nine standards to provide quality patient care (Zijlstra‐Shaw et al., 2012). The patient’s best interests should be prioritized, ensure effective communication with patients, and obtain valid patient consent. Additionally, maintain and protect patients’ information, obtain a clear and effective complaints procedure, and collaborate with coworkers to achieve the patient’s best interests.
Dental prosthetists have a responsibility to safeguard both patient safety and public safety. Suppose a dental prosthetist sees a patient being mistreated or notices that someone’s behaviour is endangering patients or another staff member. They have a professional obligation to speak out (Clarke et al., 2021). To ensure patient anonymity, the staff member should respond right away. Dental prosthetists must keep an accurate record of any concerns and the steps taken to address them. Further, the prosthetists should work within their professional knowledge and abilities, express concerns if patients are in danger, and ensure that their conduct upholds patients’ trust in them and dental professionals. Dental prosthetists should raise their concerns internally while keeping a clear written record of them following the workplace’s whistleblower policy or local safeguarding procedures (Clarke et al., 2021). Their decision could prevent someone from experiencing more abuse or result in a life-altering experience.
Registration Standards
The Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council approves the National Board’s creation of registration standards. The organization has established the prerequisites applicants, registrants, and students must meet to register and keep their registration (ADPA Ltd, 2014). The National Board creates guidelines to support the profession and help clarify what the National Board expects on various topics, such as the requirements of registration criteria. The National Board’s Scope of practice registration standard and associated topics are covered in further detail in these recommendations (ADPA Ltd, 2014). The registration standard should be read along with these regulations. The registration standard establishes the scope of practice for all licensed dental practitioners. Dental professionals must only work within their education, training, and competence and exercise sound professional judgment when determining their and other colleagues’ scope of practice (ADPA Ltd, 2014). Each dentist is accountable for their choices, treatments, and recommendations.
Registered dental practitioners are only permitted to practice the dental operations within each category for which they have received the necessary education and training through National Board-approved study programs. Programs of study authorized by the National Board for the registration standard and recommendations are included under National Law. They have accepted programs of study that must be accredited by the professional accreditation body and approved by the National Board (ADPA Ltd, 2014). The programs have been approved for dental practitioners who have completed their studies. This is the initial lead to registration as a dentist in the specialty in which the study was completed. Moreover, other assessments and examinations enable dental practitioners to register with the Board for general, specialist, or limited registration. Some of the initiatives required for the dental practitioner to broaden scope largely depend on educational programs that the National Board has evaluated and authorized. These programs expand a dental practitioner’s scope of practice (ADPA Ltd, 2014). The programs to broaden scope cover a variety of competencies that enable dental professionals to deepen their knowledge, expertise, and competence in specific fields and within the registered division.
Conclusion
Dental prosthetists, like any other medical and dental practitioner, must uphold the professional code of ethics. The ADA defines that their education should take a minimum of two years to obtain critical educational requirements. Moreover, these professionals should take several assessments, examinations, and qualifications to qualify for registration standards outlined by the National Board approved by the ADA. Completing their studies is the initial lead to registration as a dental practitioner in the Australian territories. In their professional practice, dental prosthetists should uphold ethical considerations. This includes practicing autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence. In professional practice, these ethical principles enable dental practitioners to provide their patients with quality and evidence-based dental and oral health. They allow the practitioners to uphold patients’ data safety and confidentiality and allow patients to make decisions. Moreover, they allow dental practitioners to conduct treatment with the patient’s consent. Therefore, a code of ethics is important to define dental professionalism among dental prosthetists.
References
Bruscino, T. (2012). Basic ethics in dentistry. The Academy of Dental Learning & OSHA Training, pp. 16–25.
Clarke, L., Puli, L., Ridgewell, E., Dillon, M. P., & Anderson, S. (2021). Regulation of the global orthotist/prosthetist workforce, and what we might learn from allied health professions with international-level regulatory support: a narrative review. Human Resources for Health, 19(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00625-9
Newbrun, E. (2007). Professional ethics and professional etiquette in dentistry: are they compatible? Journal of the history of dentistry, 55(3), 119–25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18380245
The Australian Dental Prosthetists Association Ltd (ADPA Ltd, 2014, 22nd September). Response to the ACT Inquiry into the sourcing and supply of dental prostheses and appliances to Australian dental practitioners from overseas. https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/650720/05-Cindy-Tillbrook-ADPA.pdf
Thomas, L. A., Tibble, H., Too, L. S., Hopcraft, M. S., & Bismark, M. M. (2018). Complaints about dental practitioners: an analysis of 6 years of complaints about dentists, dental prosthetists, oral health therapists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists in Australia. Australian dental journal, 63(3), 285-293. https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12625
Zijlstra‐Shaw, S., Robinson, P. G., & Roberts, T. (2012). Assessing professionalism within dental education; the need for a definition. European Journal of Dental Education, 16(1), e128-e136. Doi:10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011. 00687.x
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