There are many differences between a prosthodontist and a general dentist, but the biggest difference is that the former deals with replacing or extracting teeth, essentially anything that needs to be replaced in the mouth. Prosthodontists are dental specialists who are primarily focused on restoring damaged teeth and replacing missing teeth. From dental crowns to dental bridges, dentures, veneers, dental and implants, a prosthodontist will focus on restoring your smile and bite with restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Maintaining a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile involves several components.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing every day. It is also recommended that teeth be professionally cleaned and examined every six months. While proper mouth care is essential to reduce the risk of oral health complications, problems can sometimes arise. When a problem occurs, such as damage or loss of teeth, a specialist is needed.
At Florida Prosthodontics, we specialize in prosthodontics and can help restore both the health and appearance of your smile. Patients need extractions in extreme cases where a tooth is severely damaged or where there is periodontal (gum) disease. Extractions may also be needed when preparing the mouth for restorative treatments, such as implants or dentures, for example. Dentists and oral surgeons can perform tooth extractions, but dentists are not qualified to extract teeth in all kinds of circumstances.
To find out if you should choose a dentist or an oral surgeon like Dr. Scherer for the extraction of your teeth, read on as we take a closer look at this topic. For example, treating severe tooth decay due to periodontitis, better known as gum disease, may begin with your family's dentist, who will likely be the first to detect the problem and to consult and recommend a treatment plan to restore your oral health and function. A periodontist specializes in studying the structure that supports teeth, including bone and gums.
It is this specialist who will commonly remove decayed teeth if they cannot be restored, treat the disease and restore oral health. If dental implants are recommended for tooth replacement, an oral surgeon or prosthodontist will generally place and maintain the implants. The latter will often lead the team of specialists if more than one specialist is needed to successfully restore oral health and missing teeth. Prosthodontists have a DDS or DMD and are qualified dentists, and also undergo an additional three years of residency and training through an ADA-accredited graduate program.
Your general dentist or orthodontist will likely refer you to a prosthodontist if you have complicated problems involving bone and tissue surgery, in addition to the most common dental work that needs to be done. Choose a prosthodontist because of their advanced education and training, efficiency, and experience with advanced technology. Therefore, from dental implants, bridges and crowns to dentures and veneers, prosthodontists have the expertise needed to develop a treatment plan to restore the patient's mouth in the most functional and aesthetic way. This is your area of expertise, so a prosthodontist will get fantastic results and restore your smile quickly.
And while the problems that can lead to a referral to a prosthodontist may seem daunting at first, it can be comforting to know that you are in the hands of an expert specially trained to help you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. A dental laboratory technician is a trained professional who manufactures dental restorations, crowns, bridges, and dentures based on designs and instructions provided by a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist can work with any type of dentist, from your general dentist or pediatric dentist to oral surgeons and even ear, nose and throat specialists when needed. In fact, since a prosthodontist is a board-certified professional trained to perform this type of procedure, they are the best dentist for dentures.
If you have already experienced tooth loss or have any other condition for which you need to see a prosthodontist, these specialists, fortunately, have a set of skills and a wide range of knowledge to treat complex dental problems effectively. If you have several missing or damaged teeth and you want to restore your smile, a prosthodontist is the best option. Essentially, prosthodontists are THE recognized experts when it comes to replacing anything in the mouth. The first thing to know is that while it is true that a prosthodontist and a general dentist sometimes perform the same procedures, there is a big difference in what they can do, as well as in their training.
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