The pattern of use of the dental surgery assistant by British dentists

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the pattern of utilization of dental surgery assistants (D.S.A.) by British dentists. 1,188 general dental practitioners working in the National Health Service and 103 private non‐N.H.S. dentists responded to a written questionnaire. Although 98.3 % of the N.H.S. dental practitioners utilized a D.S.A., 60.7 % had a D.S.A. at the chairside for 90 % or more of the time. There were only small differenccs in the pattern of use of D.S.A.'s between N.H.S. and private dentists. The majority (67 %) of D.S.A.'s worked standing, whereas 66.4 % of dentists worked sitting down for 50 % or more of the time. Only 3.1 % of dentists had no D.S.A.'s; over half the dentists worked in practices with two to four D.S.A.'s. Overall, 74.4 % of dentists wished they had more instruction in dental ancillary utilization. The training given to undergraduates did not appear to be sulficient nor nieaningful for the students.