THE OREGON STATE DENTURIST ASSOCIATION
Welcome to the Oregon State Denturist Association’s website. This website is the place to learn more about denturism and to help you find a licensed oral health care professional to meet your full or partial denture needs with affordable, high-quality service. Any loss of natural teeth is a regrettable occurrence. Fortunately, it is one that can be remedied with excellent results.
IMPORTANT INFO:
BIO – OSDA PRESIDENT, GRANT SMITH, LD
Grant began working in his father’s dental laboratory in Florence in 1979. In 1983, Grant’s father was killed in an automobile accident and at the age of 20, Grant assumed ownership of Florence Dental Laboratory. After serving the dental community in Florence and Eugene with both fixed and removable restorations for 20 years, Grant took the opportunity through the George Brown College ADEC program to meet the requirements for licensure in the State of Oregon.
Grant and his wife, Dana have since been serving the Lane County area for over 20 years and are the owners of Grant Smith Denture Studio in Eugene. Grant And Dana have 4 adult children and 1 grandchild, who’s proud father, Calvin is a Licensed Denturist and serves as a third-generation honoring the craft.
“These are the best fitting dentures I have ever had. They look natural and I am so pleased with them. I am able to really chew my food for the first time in years. My denturist is truly an artist.”
“I am proud to be a denturist. I have many satisfied, happy patients whose lives I have helped to improve, and this makes me feel very good about what I do.”
WHAT IS A DENTURIST?
Denturists construct, repair, reline, fit or alter removable prosthetic dental appliances’ also known as dentures. In the fitting process, denturists take impressions, bite registrations and perform try-ins or insertions. Denturists provide full dentures to replace complete sets of teeth that are missing in the upper, lower or both sections of the mouth, and partial dentures, which fit sections of the mouth in which some of the original teeth remain.
HOW DO I BECOME A DENTURIST?
Qualifying for licensure as a denturist requires the completion of an associate degree program in denture technology, or the equivalent informal, post-secondary education, approved by the State of Oregon. The program shall include courses in anatomy, microbiology, physiology, pharmacology, pathology dental materials, clinical denture and denture laboratory technologies. Denturists are required to obtain at least 30 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain their state-issued license.
Find a Denturist
When in need of a new or replacement denture, the first decision you need to make is who to see. If you don’t already have a denturist this decision can be all the more difficult, since it is impossible to see or use a new denture before it is made for you.
A good place to begin is with a personal referral. If you have friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers who you know wear dentures, and you like the way they look, talk to them about who they went to and how satisfied they are. If you cannot get a referral , consult your local yellow pages under “denturist.”
Whether you choose a denturist from a personal referral or from the phone book, your next step should be to schedule an initial consultation appointment with the offices of as many denturists as you want to consider. There is usually no charge for these meetings. Before the appointment date arrives, make a list of questions to ask that will help you determine if this is the person you want to work with. Be prepared to ask about their training and experience. Don’t hesitate to ask for patient referrals as well.
When you arrive for the appointment, notice the office. Is it clean? Does it have a professional look and feel? Are you comfortable being there? During you meeting with the denturist he or she will ask questions, examine your mouth and your current denture (if you have one) and make recommendations on how to proceed. They should also make time for you to ask any questions you may have.
As a final step, you may want to contact the Health Licensing Agency at 503-378-8667 and ask if any of the denturists you have interviewed have a record of complaints or legal violations.
One additional factor you may want to take into consideration is whether or not the denturists you are interested in are members of the Oregon State Denturists Association. OSDA members are among the most dedicated, professional, and well trained practitioners in the state. We encourage you to use this page to locate an OSDA member denturist near you and schedule a consultation.