The Use of the Surveyor in Removable Partial Denture Prosthetics: A Survey Among Dental Technicians in Casablanca.

Introduction Preserving oral structures in removable partial denture (RPD) therapy requires meticulous surveying analysis to ensure long-term clinical success. This study aimed to examine how dental surveyors are utilized across dental laboratories in Casablanca. Materials and methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey targeting 105 private-practice dental technicians in Casablanca, Morocco, over a three-month period (October 2023 to January 2024). Data regarding professional backgrounds, framework design protocols, and surveying practices were collected using a structured 20-item questionnaire administered by telephone and in physical and digital formats. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) in SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 16.0 (released 2007; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results Most respondents were experienced men (71.4%; 81% with >10 years in practice), yet only 43.8% actively participated in continuing education. Although 71.2% of the laboratories owned a surveyor, its routine use remained low at 30.5%, with nearly half (47.6%) of the respondents considering the tool optional. Furthermore, a major gap in clinician-laboratory communication was identified: 81.9% of technicians independently designed the RPD frameworks, even though only 8.6% of the prescribing clinicians had a surveyor in their private offices. Conclusions The use of the dental surveyor in Casablanca is characterized by a significant gap between equipment ownership and clinical practice. Insufficient continuing education and a lack of communication between practitioners and laboratories highlight the urgent need for better coordination to ensure the quality of prosthetic rehabilitation.