lh ere is a great need for prosthodontic care in the United States at this time, and this need is expected to increase during the next 25 years. It was estimated that, in 1962, there were 111 million adults between the ages of 18 to 79 years. Of this group, 20 million (18 per cent) were completely edentulous. An additional 8.9 million (8 per cent) were edentulous in one jaw.l The general population continues to increase and so does the patient-dentist ratio. There were 150 million persons in the United States in 1953, increasing to 198 million in 1967 (an increase of 24.5 per cent). The dentist-patient ratio was 50:100,000 in 1950 and 46:100,000 in 1967.’ The need for dental care increases while the dentist-patient ratio decreases. Increasing dental school enrollment will make only minor impact on this need for care. Improvement of the quality of life for the American people has been a primary concern of national and local governments. Protecting and improving health standards by providing easy access to care are important to life quality.” The problem of how to train capable specialists to provide this care is the purpose of this conference. Other problems, such as how they can function most productively and where they are needed, must also be answered. In order to provide care for the great numbers of partially or completely edentulous patients, more effective and efficient methods must be developed. The delivery of treatment must be accomplished in a manner that is acceptable to the public and the dental profession. This cannot be done by ignoring the sensitivity to patient needs which is essential for successful denture service. Patients who have undergone the trauma of tooth loss cannot be treated with only technical procedures. In our quest for efficiency and minimal cost, the person being rehabilitated cannot be ignored. Each of these patients will bring with him a frame of reference based on previous experiences, as well as a physical makeup which is unique to him. The success of therapy will depend on the ability of the prosthodontist to provide technical excellence in this context of existing factors. Restorative treatment of these large groups of patients is the challenge of dentistry. ’ Because of the special problems and