The term “denture prescription” can cause a little confusion. Here’s a clear explanation of what it means, when one is required, and how the process works if you come to see us at Cotswold Denture Clinic.
What Is a Dental Prescription?
In a traditional dental practice setting, a dentist writes a prescription — a detailed set of instructions — for a dental laboratory technician to follow when making a denture. This covers specifications such as tooth shade, size, base material and any clinical notes about the patient’s bite.
When Is a Prescription Needed?
Dental prescriptions are required when a dentist is directing the making of a dental appliance by an external technician. This is the standard route in most general dental practices.
What’s Different With a CDT?
As a registered Clinical Dental Technician (CDT), Simon Miles can see edentulous patients directly and both design and make their dentures without a separate prescription from a dentist. The CDT takes on the clinical assessment, impression taking and denture design themselves.
This is one of the key advantages of seeing a CDT — you’re working directly with the person making your teeth, without an additional layer of instruction and interpretation in between.
What If You Still Have Some Natural Teeth?
If you have remaining natural teeth and need a partial denture, a dentist’s examination and prescription is typically required before a CDT can proceed. In practice, if you haven’t seen your dentist recently, we’ll advise you to do so first as part of your care pathway.
We’re happy to discuss your individual situation. Contact us or call 01793 540128 and we’ll explain exactly what’s needed for your circumstances.
Not if you have no remaining natural teeth. A GDC-registered CDT like Simon Miles can see edentulous patients directly. If you have natural teeth remaining, you will need a dentist’s involvement.
A dental prescription typically includes patient details, tooth shade specifications, material requirements, bite information, and any special clinical instructions relevant to that patient’s case.
Yes — if your dentist has provided a prescription for a denture, we can work from this. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and we’ll advise the best way to proceed.
