What Is a Prosthodontist?

Taking good care of your mouth is essential for maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile. There are several components involved in proper oral hygiene, including your daily care routine of brushing and flossing as well as twice-yearly dental cleanings and exams. While these steps greatly help to prevent serious oral health issues from occurring, sometimes complications arise. Issues like tooth damage, the need for a tooth extraction, or tooth loss needs to be treated by a prosthodontist. Florida Prosthodontics is here to help.

There are nine recognized specialties in the field of dentistry. One of these specialties is prosthodontics. No matter if the dentist is a general dentist or a specialist, all dentists attend four years of dental school, where they receive a formal education. For dentists who want to become a specialist, however, additional education is required. As prosthodontists, we attend an additional 2 to 3 years of dental school, where we receive an in-depth education as well as hands-on training in our specific field.

Prosthodontics is a dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association. It pertains to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues.

A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed dental school plus three additional years of advanced training and education in an ADA-accredited prosthodontic graduate program. They specialize in treating and handling dental and facial problems that involve restoring missing tooth and jaw structures. A prosthodontist is highly trained in cosmetics, dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ/TMD), and more.

Treatment for Damaged Teeth

The teeth are the strongest substance in your body and can withstand a significant amount of daily use. Despite their strength, however, they can still be faced with damage, including decay, chips, and cracks. While small damage might not seem like a big deal at the time, even the smallest issues can worsen over time. More significant tooth damage impacts both the quality of your smile as well as the health of your mouth, leaving the inner layers of your teeth susceptible to bacterial invasion. If this happens, a painful infection can develop. We provide several different treatments for damaged teeth, including:

•	Dental bonding.
•	Porcelain veneers.
•	Ceramic crowns.
•	Tooth colored fillings.
•	Inlays and onlays.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Tooth loss affects your entire life. Even losing just one tooth can have a significant impact. While a tooth missing from the back of your mouth might not impact your smile, it can affect how you chew your food, which can impact your digestion and nutrition. Missing teeth can affect your speech as well as increase your risk for tooth damage, tooth decay, and gum disease. Tooth loss also affects the health of your jaw. The teeth provide stimulation for the bone, helping to keep it strong. When you lose teeth, the bone loses stimulation. This causes it to become weak and change shape. This can affect the alignment of your teeth, leading to issues such as uneven tooth wear, bruxism, and TMJ disorder.

What are My Options for Tooth Replacement?

There are several different options available for replacing your missing teeth. These include:

•	Bridges. A bridge is a traditional replacement option that is commonly used to replace a single missing tooth. This restoration consists of a pontic, or replacement, a tooth that fills in the empty space left behind by your missing tooth. There is a dental crown on each side of the tooth. These crowns anchor the bridge into place using your adjacent healthy teeth.
•	Dentures. Dentures are traditionally used for replacing sections of missing teeth or an entire arch of missing teeth. They are a removable prosthetic consisting of an acrylic base that holds acrylic resin teeth. The base sits directly on your gums, relying on the tissue for support.
•	Dental implants. Dental implants are a modern alternative for replacing missing teeth. Implants involve a surgical procedure during which small titanium posts are placed into your jawbone. Your bone then fuses to the posts, stabilizing them within the jaw. The posts are then used to provide support for your replacement teeth. Implants have quickly become the most popular choice for tooth replacement, restoring the functions of your teeth and the quality of your smile, as well as protecting the health of your jawbone.

When faced with tooth damage or tooth loss, a dentist that specializes in the specific treatment of these issues is needed. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Florida Prosthodontics at (321) 452-3388 today.

Why Do I Need a Prosthodontist?
Types of Procedures

What Is a Prosthodontist?Merritt Island, Suntree & Orlando