Work AUTHORIZATION FOR REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES A work

Work AUTHORIZATION FOR REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES

� � A work authorization is a written direction for the preparation and use of a medicine or dental restoration ; a medical recipe ; a prescribed remedy. The responsibility of a dentist to the public and his profession in safeguarding the quality of prosthodontic services is discharged, in part, through work authorization.

� Work authorizations are effective channels of communication when properly executed.

CONTENT: � Ø Ø Ø Ø Includes the name and address of the dental laboratory, the name and address of the dentist originating the work authorization, the date of the work authorization, identification of the patient, desired completion date of the request, specific instructions, the signature of the dentist, and the registered license number of the dentist.

FUNCTION � Ø Ø These are : It furnishes definite instructions for the laboratory procedures to be accomplished and establishes the acceptable minimum of quality for the services rendered. It provides a means of protecting the public from the illegal practice of dentistry. It is a protective document for both the dentist and dental laboratory technician should they become participants in a lawsuit to resolve matters between them. It completely delineates the responsibilities of the dentist and the dental laboratory technician.

CHARACTERISTICS � work authorization must be legible, clear, concise, and readily understood. It is unreasonable to assume that laboratory technicians are decoding experts.

1. Sufficient information must be included in a work authorization to enable the technician to study and carry out the request. 2. Many dentists are overly presumptive in assuming that a request can be acceptably fulfilled without proper direction

� It is sound practice to provide the dental laboratory technician with adequate written instructions for each required laboratory service in the construction of a restoration. However, a work authorization form three feet long would be necessary to contain this amount of information in a “one shot” effort

� � No single work authorization form is adequate to furnish detailed instructions for accomplishing the laboratory phases in the construction of removable partial dentures, crowns and fixed partial dentures, complete dentures, or for accomplishing orthodontic laboratory procedures. Inherent differences in the many types of restorations themselves and differences in the laboratory phases necessary for their accomplishment establish a requirement for individual prescription forms.

DEFINITIVE INSTRUCTIONS BY WORK AUTHORIZATIONS FOR REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES Ø Work authorization forms may be so constructed that only a minimum of writing is necessary to relay thorough instructions. Ø The form can contain printed listings of materials and specifications which require either a “check mark” or a “fill-in” for authorizing their use.

� A reminder space to designate the choice of metal for the framework is included

� Frameworks for removable partial dentures are usually cast in either a type “D” gold or a chromecobalt alloy. The material nature of the denture base may be indicated by a check mark. It is difficult to elicit this information from the markings on master casts.

Space is reserved on the work authorization form to furnish the technician with information on your selection of teeth

A deserved display of courtesy and a demonstration of respect for the laboratory technician is indicated. The general request is prefaced by please and the specific instructions are ended with: thank you

� A good work authorization form not only assures clarity but it also simplifies correct execution. Figures can be provided on which diagrams may be drawn to enhance written descriptions when necessary.

� � � � color code index can be used to explain the markings on the master cast when it is submitted to the laboratory for the fabrication of a framework (Fig. 7, B ). A green pencil is used to outline the framework ; red designates the desired location of finishing lines on the framework ; black lines--- denote the height of contour on teeth and soft tissues created during the survey of the cast. The color code eliminates confusion in interpreting the markings on the master cast. Blue—denture base Brown- metal extension Red- occlusal rest and guide plane preparation.

� Instructions should leave no doubt of your requirements in a request for laboratory services. It is foolish to use undercut dimensions of 0. 01” to 0. 02” when surveying a master cast unless directions for incorporating these dimensions in the finished framework are included.

� Work authorization blanks should be available in tablet form so that a carbon duplicate can be conveniently made to supply a copy for both the dentist and the dental laboratory technician. The original may be of a different color than the carbon copy for ready identification.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF WORK AUTHORIZATIONS � � � Licensed dentist Licensed lab technician Authorized form

DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES BY PRESCRIPTIONS � � � The dentist is responsible for all phases of a removable partial denture service in the strict sense of the word. the laboratory technician is responsible to the dentist and never to the patient. A dentist who downgrades the design of a removable partial denture to a less qualified individual immediately eliminates the opportunity for a preventive removable partial denture service.

Summary � � A sample work authorization form was presented indicating the nature of instructions that enable the dentist to direct and constantly supervise laboratory procedures performed by a technician. The use of meaningful work authorizations for dental laboratory services will enhance the quality of restorations resulting from a conjoint effort of the dentist and the dental laboratory technician. The rewards of effective communication through prescriptions outweigh by far the small effort necessary to execute instructive prescriptions. If the practice of prosthetic dentistry is to remain in the control of dentists, each menzber of the dental profession must avoid delegating responsibility to those less qualified to accept the responsibility.