Prosthodontics General Dentistry

Your Plymouth prosthodontist Metropolitan Prosthodontics provides a variety of dental treatments to replace or repair teeth and enhance smiles with cosmetic dentistry. General dentists also do this to some extent, but prosthodontists are the recognized experts in these procedures.

A further difference between prosthodontics and general dentistry is the types of oral surgery they can perform. General dentists may perform routine procedures that come under the umbrella of oral surgery. But they refer more complex cases to oral and facial surgery specialists – prosthodontists who can rebuild defective structures of the mouth, face, and jaw.

What Sets Prosthodontists Apart?

As a primary dental care provider, your regular dentist is perfectly capable of looking after your routine oral health needs. Prosthodontics, however, will be necessary if you require specialized treatment. Some general dentists undertake additional training in some procedures. But prosthodontics is a highly specific area of dentistry. Prosthodontists are specialists with extensive, highly focused training in aesthetic tooth replacement and restoration and treating problems associated with facial abnormalities.

Both general dentists and prosthodontists complete four years of dental school to become a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). They learn about preventive dentistry such as checkups and routine restorative dentistry like fillings.

However, the aspiring prosthodontist undertakes a further three years of residency-based specialized training in disciplines such as:

  • Replacing teeth with dental prosthetics – artificial teeth.
  • Cosmetic dental treatments.
  • Intricate facial surgery.

Restorative Procedures in Prosthodontics

Many dental procedures to repair or rebuild damaged teeth are prosthodontic in nature. They use dental prostheses so you can eat and speak properly and smile with confidence. Your general dentist may offer many of these treatments. But they’ll likely refer you to a prosthodontist if your case is complex or they need to coordinate treatment. Prosthodontists bring their specialized training and expertise to bear in several common restorative dental procedures.

Dentures

Removable dentures are the standard treatment to restore oral functionality after the loss of several teeth or all the teeth in a dental arch. A full denture (complete denture) replaces all the upper or lower teeth. A partial denture is used when some teeth are remaining. Immediate, temporary dentures are placed the same day as damaged teeth are removed. Conventional dentures provide the final solution when the mouth has healed. Dentures can also be supported by implants. Dentures are made from a mold of the mouth. Instead of relying on an external denture lab, your Plymouth prosthodontists have brought the denture fabrication process in-house. This can speed up overall treatment time and ensures control over quality of materials.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are fixed in the mouth permanently to replace one or more teeth. If you’ve lost a single tooth or two adjacent teeth, a bridge can be attached to dental crowns placed on healthy teeth either side of the gap. If you’ve lost a section of three or four upper or lower teeth, the bridge can be supported by dental implants.

Dental Implants

State-of-the art dental implants are a popular alternative to conventional dentures and bridges because of their many advantages. Implants provide a permanent solution to tooth loss, and they look, feel, and work like real teeth. One key benefit of implants is that they create a synthetic tooth root, unlike a denture or bridge. This encourages jawbone growth which is essential to preserve facial structure and appearance. Implant treatment can be used to replace one tooth, several teeth, or all the teeth.

Prosthetic Dental Crowns

Prosthetic porcelain dental crowns – also known as dental caps – are used instead of fillings to repair a tooth when decay or other damage is more severe. A crown encases the entire visible part of a tooth to strengthen function and improve appearance by restoring natural shape, size and color. Crowns are also used with dental implants and bridges after tooth loss.

Cosmetic Procedures in Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics embraces a range of cosmetic procedures to redesign smiles such as:

Teeth Whitening

With the help of your prosthodontist in Plymouth, you can whiten your teeth professionally in the comfort of your home, at your convenience. Our custom take-home whitening trays brighten teeth by several shades.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers – wafer-thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth – create stunning Hollywood-style smiles by concealing dental imperfections and enhancing appearance of teeth shape, size, color, and alignment.

Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding, also known as dental bonding, is a faster, more affordable alternative to veneers to improve appearance of teeth.

White Fillings

White composite fillings provide a superior aesthetic alternative to old-style silver amalgam fillings in more visible areas of the mouth.

Maxillofacial Prosthodontics

Maxillofacial prosthodontics – maxillofacial reconstructive surgery – rehabilitates patients with facial disorders from the upper jaw (maxilla) down. These issues may be congenital or triggered by disease or injury and can affect bones and soft tissues and the roof of the mouth (palate) as well as teeth. Maxillofacial procedures alleviate pain, correct deformities, and restore function to the mouth and jaw. Maxillofacial surgeons work as part of a team including general dentists and medical specialists such as plastic surgeons, neurologists, and speech therapists.

The surgical procedures they perform treat numerous maxillofacial disorders, such as:

  • Trauma to the mouth, face, or jaw, including fractures.
  • Cleft palate and cleft lip.
  • Growths such as cysts and tumors.
  • Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
  • Lack of jawbone, requiring a bone graft.

Advantages of Seeing a Prosthodontist

General dentists provide standard dental treatments but there may be times when you need additional, prosthodontic intervention. When you see a prosthodontist, you get effective treatment of the highest standard that meets your individual needs and results in a healthy, attractive smile alongside optimization of oral functionality.

Some people call prosthodontists super dentists because they specialize in many procedures that general dentists lack the expertise to perform. With a deep knowledge of smile dynamics, prosthodontists are also the experts in cosmetic dentistry. If you’ve suffered tooth loss or have damaged or unsightly teeth, prosthodontics offers the solution that goes the extra mile. And prosthodontists’ surgical skills can restore quality of life to individuals with maxillofacial problems.

Contact your Plymouth prosthodontist if you’d like to know more about the advantages of prosthodontics.