Utilization of auxiliaries and attitudes of dentists toward the delegation of duties.

Employment of auxiliaries by dentists is high and duties performed by those auxiliaries vary. The auxiliaries' years of experience prior to their present job is low, but tenure in the job is not as low since over 30% have been employed five years or more. Regardless of the category of dentists being considered (type of practice, year of graduation, employment of auxiliaries), the great majority of dentists (over 95%) do not think cutting soft or hard tissue should be delegated. Beyond these two procedures, however, the tables show considerable variation in attitude toward delegation when year of graduation and employment of auxiliaries are considered. Other procedures that a substantial portion of the profession does not believe should be delegated are administering local anesthetic agents; placing and finishing resins, composites, and silicate restorations; placing amalgam restorations; and carving and finishing amalgam restorations. The impact of these attitudes on delivery of care should be directed particularly toward the attitudinal differences occasioned by graduation year and employment of auxiliaries, since the proportion of graduates shifts regularly and employment of auxiliaries is increasing.