## 4 Discussion
In our study, 46.7% of the dentists did not select the type of metal alloy for their FPDs, but 39.1% of the dentists agreed to select the metal alloy. Different studies in the literature state that cobalt chromium is the most commonly used metal alloy in FPDs, primarily due to its strength, cost-effectiveness, and light weight compared with noble metals [30]. Moreover, the shade of teeth being incorporated into FPD design plays a crucial role for the patient in terms of aesthetics. In this study, it was found that 82.6% of the dentists selected the shade for FPDs, but a few (7.9%) neglected this. Since many patients are concerned with the proper shade of their teeth, a mismatch in the color of the FPD teeth leads to greater dissatisfaction among the patients, which may even lead to complete rejection of treatment by the patient [31]. It is pertinent to mention that dental technicians are an important and fundamental part of the construction of dental prosthesis, but they are not trained to manage and diagnose a patient, and therefore they must be provided all the relevant information for fixed prosthesis design [2]. Ceramics, as part of metal-ceramic FPDs, coat the outermost layer of an FPD that imparts the aesthetic requirements of the patient. In our study, about 42.5% of the dentists instructed the dental technician for the ceramo-metal coping design. On the other hand, 41.4% did not. Ceramics, although aesthetically pleasing, can fracture during the use of the patient mostly due to poor metal framework design [32]. Therefore, if designing is left to the technician, this might lead to fractures and ceramic debonding. In addition, detailed written and verbal instructions to the dental technicians regarding the case design can prove to be an effective means of communication. In the present study, some dentists chose to draw the design of the prosthesis for the dental technicians to have a better understanding and guidance for the construction of the dental prosthesis. A design illustration accompanied by written and verbal instruction emphasizes the need for accurate communication, and such information, when provided to the dental technicians, can act as a legal document [33]. In the present study, the dentists preferred to communicate through phone calls and in-person meetings. Such findings have also been reached in a study by [PERSON] et al., where communication methods such as phone calls were recognized as effective modes of communication [34]. Moreover, 40.2% of the dentists were satisfied with the prostheses, but 13.5% were dissatisfied in the present study. Therefore, for optimal construction and treatment of the patient, effective communication between the dentists and dental technicians is of absolute importance. Despite the strengths of this study, such as the sample size and detailed questionnaire, there were some limitations. The opinions of the dentists presented in this study were based on experiences with different dental laboratories, and the accuracy of construction of dental prostheses varied among different laboratories as the availability of equipment varied. In addition, there might be a lack of objectivity while answering the questionnaire, as this depends on the subjective perspective of the dentists. Moreover, the outcomes of the study were based on a Pakistani dental cohort, and therefore caution should be exercised in generalizing the inference of the study's conclusions. Based on the study findings, proper training of work authorization form completion should be given to dental students throughout their preclinical and clinical training years. In addition, training workshops for dental interns and graduates must be organized to emphasize the role and responsibility of dentists in prosthesis designing and its communication to technicians, along with their legal and ethical obligations as dentists.