A denturist* is a formally trained health care specialist who custom designs, fits and builds oral prosthetic devices called dentures and partial dentures to replace missing teeth. Many dentists and also directories refer to dentists as denturists. However, as educated as dentists are in dentistry, the vast majority have little or no training in denture care, mechanical denture technology or denture manufacturing.

How much education do denturists have?

Denturists have between 2,100 - 4,200 hours of education. Their denture instructional, laboratory and clinical training consists of at least 1000 hours of health sciences and over 1,000 hours of technical and clinical denture training. Many of them have had prior experience building dentures in dental laboratories prior to, entering denturist school. In addition to denturist school, denturists are required to have six months of clinical experience or to serve a six month clinical residency.

What are the qualifications of a denturist?

In addition to denturist school, denturists are required to pass a board certification examination. The examination includes a written portion and a practical portion. The written portion includes patient evaluation and care, head and neck and oral anatomy, organic chemistry, dental histology, infection control and sterilization techniques, dental radiology, denture and partial denture design, denture and partial denture laboratory techniques, clinical denture and partial care. The practical portion of the examination includes all facets, from evaluating an actual denture patient, diagnosing the involved oral condition, planning the treatment, designing and building, finishing and inserting an accurate finished denture into the patient’s mouth and adjusting it to fit comfortably and to look aesthetically pleasing.

How do I find a denturist?

The best way is to do a local directory or internet search using the word - denturist. Caution: It is not simply enough just to do a search. You must confirm the denturist’s credentials by calling that office and asking whether he or she is really a denturist and what denturist school they have graduated from. Make sure to follow up on your inquiry by asking to see his or her credentials, board examination certificate or license. If a dentist says he went to dental school to be a denturist, still, ask for his or her denturist school diploma. Many dentists falsely claim to be denturists, however, in actuality, less than 20 denturists in the whole United States are board certified denturists.

*Disclaimer: Denturists practice under the standards of the National Denturist Association and the American Medical Denturitry Association and in accord with the Michigan Dental Practice Act. Although they practice as licensed independent practitioners in other states, in Michigan, denturists practice solely under the supervision of licensed dentists as allied health professionals. Their board certifications are strictly by National Denturist Associations, which do not indicate any license or certification from the state of Michigan.