What is a Prosthodontist?

What Is a Prosthodontist?

Prosthodontist is a dental specialist who specializes in aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth to their proper form and function. A prosthodontist is required to complete a minimum of 3 years of full-time advanced postgraduate training at an ADA-accredited prosthodontic program beyond the 4 years of dental school.

Prosthodontists go through an extensive, highly focused, and comprehensive training in dental implants, cosmetic procedures, replacement of multiple missing or broken down tooth or jaw structures, smile makeovers, full-mouth rehabilitation, surgical treatment, and much more. They handle a vast variety of cases: from single tooth restorations to complex cases that require attention to detail and high-quality comprehensive solution.

What is an Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontist?

This is a sub- or super-specialty of prosthodontics. It requires a minimum of 1 year of full-time training beyond the 7 years of dental school and prosthodontic residency. Prosthodontists that have undergone a fellowship in oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics are trained to restore beyond the teeth and mouth area.

They will work with other specialties in the medical and dental field to help patients in restoring parts of their head and neck areas lost to congenital defects, cancer, trauma, or any other pathology.

How is a prosthodontist different from other dentists and dental specialists?

The term “prostho” means replacement and “dontist” means of teeth. Prosthodontics is an ADA-recognized dental specialty that requires a minimum of 3 years of full-time training after completion of 4 to 5 years of dental school. The three-year postgraduate residency includes classroom lectures, literature reviews, seminars, research projects, laboratory training, and clinical training in all aspects of dental health and restoration.

Prosthodontists are essentially the experts when anything needs to be replaced in your mouth: a single tooth, multiple teeth, gums, jaw structure, and in some cases prostheses such as eyes, ears, etc.

Prosthodontists are regarded as the quarterback of dental treatment plans. They regularly take the lead in teams made up of general dentists, and other specialists and health professionals to develop multi-specialty treatments for your dental needs.

Why choose a prosthodontist?

Just as you would not trust anyone but a cardiologist for your heart, you should choose a prosthodontist because of the advanced training, experience in surgical and non-surgical restorations and reconstructions, and expertise with advanced technology and materials. This specialist’s entire focus of practice is in treating complex dental conditions.

Intense training gives a prosthodontist the experience and special understanding in cosmetics and restorative procedures that will go a long way toward keeping a healthy mouth and beautiful smile.