What is Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics is one of the nine dental specialities recognised by the American dental association. Prosthodontists are experts in the restoration and replacement of teeth – they make smiles look beautiful and function the way they should. Loss of natural teeth, whether in an accident or as part of the aging process, can be traumatic and affect your outlook on life. Simple pleasures – like smiling or going out to eat – become a source of stress or embarrassment. With the help of a prosthodontist, there are many options, if you have lost some or all your teeth.

Your smile could be restored by various means such as crowns and bridges, removable partial dentures and complete dentures. The recent advancement of teeth replacement with implants will make you feel the replaced teeth as your own.This will enhance your confidence and broaden your smile. Whether you need to replace one tooth or many, a prosthodontist will work with you through every step of dental implant treatment, from an initial consultation through follow-up care.

With their advanced training, prosthodontists can improve your appearance by fixing broken, discolored or misshapen teeth and associated structures. Some of the procedures that can improve your smile are:

• Placing complete ceramic esthetic crowns or “caps” onto teeth
• Placing veneers onto teeth to conceal defects
• Using bonding technology on a tooth’s surface to change its shape or to close unwanted gaps
• Bleaching discolored teeth to brighten and whiten a smile.

If you are seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work, you should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care. As ADA recognized specialists, prosthodontists are qualified to offer care in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as:

• Dental implants
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Complex care management involving multiple specialists
• Complete and removable partial dentures
• Replacing lost teeth
• Special needs of geriatric patients
• Children born with cleft palate or missing teeth
• Temporomandibular joint syndrome/disorder
• Traumatic injuries
• Snoring and sleep disorders
• Maxillofacial prosthetic procedures such as oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care

Rigorous 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 replacement.

Authored By Dr.C.M.Bejoy Mony, M.D.S.