Abstract
General dental practitioners (GDPs) continue to refer edentulous patients to secondary care for advice and treatment. The clinical records of edentulous patients referred to Birmingham Dental Hospital were reviewed to determine the common problems encountered by GDPs when constructing complete dentures. The main reasons for referral were resorption of the lower ridge (39%) followed by a series of ill-defined reasons (28%), looseness of either or both dentures (25%), pain (11%), immediate dentures (8%), exaggerated gag reflex (7%) and implants (7%). The reasons for referral do not always correspond to the clinical findings on the New Patient Assessment Clinics.