This week is National Prosthodontic Awareness Week. The staff here at ProDental Dallas loves this week, because it gives us a chance to share with others what the American board Prosthodontist teaches dentists and what they do.
What is a Prosthodontist?
Prosthodontists are dental specialists that can restore or replace teeth that are missing or replace damaged teeth. They are capable of giving someone a full mouth makeover. In order to get the training needed for this specialty, they go to school 3 extra years after they get their dental degree.
Why Would You Need To Go To A Prosthodontist Over A General Dentist?
The same reason you would need to go to a heart doctor over your general doctor. One is able to look at your overall health and the other specializes in a specific part of your body.
Extensive training and experience provide prosthodontists with a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth, and the creation of tooth replacements. Serving as the architect of a dental treatment plan, a prosthodontist collaborates with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
Prosthodontists Specialize In Missing Teeth
Prosthodontists provide an extremely high level of dental care to patients with missing teeth or significant damage to their existing teeth. Prosthodontists work with congenital defects, as well as problems arising from trauma and neglect.
Prosthodontists are highly trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating many diverse and complex dental conditions and restoring optimum function and aesthetics. These include: crowns, bridges, complete and removable partial dentures, dental implants, TMD-jaw joint problems, traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structure and/or teeth, snoring or sleep disorders, and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care.
Prosthodontists specialize in using prosthetics like:
Crowns
A crown is like a cap that goes over a tooth that is damaged. The crowns are shaped to look like your natural teeth. The tooth is ground down enough for the crown to go overtop of it and protect it from further damage.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a permanent solution to lost teeth. A titanium post is screwed directly into the bone in your jaw. Then, a handcrafted tooth is attached to the post. The porcelain tooth can only be removed by the Prosthodontist.
Dentures
Dentures are designed to replace all of your teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth. It is made to look like your natural teeth and will completely restore your smile. The prosthetic needs to be taken out every night for cleaning and storage.
There are many different denture options including:
- Fixed Dentures (hybrids)- fixed dentures are attached to implants and can only be removed by the Prosthodontist.
- Full Mouth Dentures- these dentures are what people think of when they envision dentures. The full set of teeth are made to fit your top and bottom gums.
- Immediate Dentures- this prosthetic is used as a temporary solution for people that have some or all of their teeth removed. The immediate denture is used until the permanent set is crafted.
- Overdentures- these dentures snap on to implants that are screwed into the bone of the jaw. You will remove these at the end of each night for cleaning and storage.
- Partial Dentures- these can be traditional, claspless, or all acrylic.
Veneers
Veneers are often made of porcelain and are designed to whiten teeth, close in gaps, or cover chips. The veneer is a thin piece of porcelain that is permanently attached to the front of your teeth. Your natural teeth stay in place.
Call Today For a Prosthodontist
Call Pro Dental Dallas today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Roe. He is a board certified by the American board of Prosthodontist and specializes in full mouth restoration. He can evaluate your oral care concerns and provide you with the solutions you want. He takes time with you to come up with the right treatment plan for you.
