#44

Widespread consumer satisfaction with the services provided by denturists has previously been discussed. The denturists in Canada appear to be providing about half of the dentures obtained, with few complaints about the quality of the services received. while it is quite likely that some dissatisfied customers do not complain to governmental officials, the failure of the Canadian denturists to make known the availability of their services by advertising strongly suggests that some portion of their customers are obtained by referral from others who are satisfied. Perhaps most importantly, it is clear that some consumers actually prefer to patronize denturists rather than dentists even when price is not a factor in the choice of provider. This is indicated by the fact that half of the elderly in Alberta, for whom denture care is entirely subsidized without regard to the provider, nevertheless choose to obtain their dentures from denturists.

The same appears to a true in the illegal market for dentures in the United States. Notwithstanding its illegality, some denturists have build up sizeable practices on the basis of customer referral. It appears that only a small portion of the proceedings against denturists for violating current dental laws derive from consumer complaints about the quality of their services. Consumer groups are also the primary source of support for the denturist legislation; indeed. the consumers of Oregon overrode the judgment or the legislature in that state overwhelming passing a referendum virtually identical to a bill defeated in the preceding legislative season.