GrassRoots Advocacy: Slow Progress For Denturists

In their quest to expand patient access to economical dentures by servicing the public directly, denturists have fought long, hard battles at the grass-roots level to legalize their profession as it is in many other countries. Despite limited manpower and financial resources, they've taken on the ADA and its powerful organized efforts to thwart denturism and now have the legal right to work independently and directly with the public in Arizona, California, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Those who oppose denturism argue that denturists lack the proper training and therefore provide substandard care. These opponents then gain public awareness by filing legal complaints against denturists practicing in states with no legislation. The ADA and state associations have also been successful in defeating recent legislation in Kentucky, which has been in the works since 2000, and in Wyoming where, despite support of the state's influential Silver...