#21

Organization has not been without its risks for those involved. Many dentists refuse to patronize labs whose owners or employees support the denturist movement, whether or not they believe the technician is actually engaged in illegal sales, and several labs have lost all their customers shortly after becoming openly involved or have been threatened with such losses. For example, following a conviction for illegally practicing dentistry by selling dentures directly to a consumer, a technician in southern Illinois was refused employment by every laboratory in the area due to fear that the labs would lose their business. A similar incident has been reported in the state of Kansas. In another instance, a technician lost all of his dentist customers shortly after he became involved in organizing the Illinois Denturist Association, although apparently, none of his accounts believed or had reason to believe that he was then engaged in illegal sales. On at least one occasion, such refusals to deal have been encouraged by a dental society; a county society in Oregon sent a letter to each of its members urging them not to patronize certain laboratories which were suspected of dealing with the public.