What Is a Prosthodontist?
Escanaba, MI
 Within the field of dentistry, there are many specialists who focus on many different issues. These include preventative care, pain correction, general care, and restorative treatment, among many other areas. If you have never had a missing or severely damaged tooth, then you may not have ever seen a prosthodontist before. Prosthodontists are a specialized form of dentist that focus on restorative dental procedures. Our team at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry offers many great restorative dental procedures to improve the quality and function of your smile.
Who Is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist's job is to assist in restoring the health of the teeth by performing procedures that take years of training and education beyond general dentistry. The American Dental Association states that prosthodontists assist their patients by diagnosing and treating abnormalities that result in missing or injured teeth. This treatment helps patients to maintain comfort while simultaneously helping to improve their appearance. If you face a condition that results in the loss or serious damage of your natural teeth, it may be time to see a prosthodontist. We can assist you in restoring your oral health. Our team at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry is ready to restore your teeth to the best condition possible.
The Training and Expertise of a Prosthodontist
In order to treat the array of conditions associated with prosthodontics, additional education is required above what a general dentist must obtain. In addition to the four years of dental school required for both the Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees, a prosthodontist must continue their education for an additional three years. This further education is generally hands-on in a specific residency program. This allows prosthodontists to engage in the active training necessary to achieve a specialization in the field of dentistry. Like all practicing dentists, prosthodontists must have a license in the state where they will work. This requires them to pass the National Board Dental Examinations in addition to any specialty exams that a state may require. Prosthodontists may also seek an auxiliary certification from the American Board of Prosthodontists to make themselves more attractive to potential employers and patients.
Prosthodontists focus on both functional and cosmetic aspects of restorative dentistry. Our team's goal is to have your teeth looking and working great.
Services Provided by Prosthodontists
Prosthodontists are charged with replacing teeth, restoring damaged teeth, and helping patients to obtain and maintain their oral functionality. Losing teeth and having poor oral health can result in a smile that is not as aesthetically pleasing as you would prefer.
Therefore, it is also a prosthodontist's job to help you achieve a standard of beauty that leaves you feeling confident and secure. To improve the function of teeth and improve their patients' look, prosthodontists generally use artificial substances to perform restorative procedures. These procedures include, but are not limited to, dentures, porcelain veneers, and fillings. While a major component of a prosthodontist's job is restoring tooth loss and damage due to oral trauma or disease, their expertise is also valuable in the treatment of cleft palates and jaw disorders. This is an area of dentistry where restoration is often coupled with cosmetic care in an effort to help patients look and feel their best.
Prosthodontists complete all forms of restorative dentistry. This ranges from repairing or reshaping a single tooth or completing a major procedure such as installing dental implants. One of the most common examples of a procedure completed by a prosthodontist is the placing of a crown.
A crown is utilized when your tooth is too damaged or decayed for a simple filling but does not need to be extracted. This is generally completed in a total of two visits. During the first visit, our team will conduct imaging procedures and a mold is created of your tooth. When you return, we will install your new crown, which will completely encapsulate your damaged tooth.
If you have multiple teeth that need to be replaced, a prosthodontist can help with those needs as well. A dental bridge is a great solution if you are missing multiple consecutive teeth. A bridge is a grouping of several artificial teeth. They are placed by connecting them to the healthy adjacent teeth on either side of the open space.
The Importance of Prosthodontic Care
Prosthodontists differ from general dentists in several ways. As stated above, prosthodontists are required to go through years of additional training in order to be designated as specialists. This additional schooling allows them to seamlessly blend their work with your existing teeth to give you a flawless smile.
Prosthodontists are highly specialized. General dentists will focus on the basic tasks and procedures to keep your teeth healthy. This field is called preventive dentistry. A general dentist will typically refer you to a prosthodontist if you are in need of work outside of their scope of care.
Dental Implants and Prosthodontics
One of the more substantial procedures completed by a prosthodontist is the installation of dental implants. Dental implants are one of the longest lasting restorative procedures available and indistinguishable from your natural teeth once the procedure is completed. The prosthodontist will design the implant for you using measurements from a preliminary visit. During the operation, titanium posts are inserted into your jaw, which holds the prosthetic teeth.
Tooth loss and damage can affect self-confidence and the way you present yourself. In addition, these issues may signal oral disease and require the assistance of a highly trained professional to treat. If you have experienced tooth loss, oral trauma or tooth damage, it may be time to see a prosthodontist. Do not go another day lacking confidence in your smile or dealing with persistent discomfort. Call Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry at (906) 212-4725 to schedule a consultation with one of our professionals today. |
GREEN BAY (920) 278-7678
