Prosthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on missing teeth and other oral problems. These trained medical professionals provide specialized care tailored to each patient's particular dental needs. As the name suggests, prosthodontists specialize in the rehabilitation and replacement of natural teeth with artificial ones. A periodontist, on the other hand, is a dentist who is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of dental issues related to the structures around our teeth, gums, and jaw bone.
The word “peri” means around, while “odont” refers to teeth. Periodontists use several dental procedures, such as scraping, deep scraping, and root planning to remove plaque and tartar from teeth. This improves oral health and strengthens the attachment of teeth to gums and jaw bone. While many traditional dentists can also provide these services, prosthodontists have extensive experience working on sensitive dental cases that require a specialist.
As a prosthodontist, you can work in a very large dental office or open your own specialized office. Basically, prosthodontists are THE recognized experts when you need to replace anything in your mouth. If you have a complex oral health problem, such as missing teeth or jaw problems, your dentist may recommend that you see a prosthodontist. The biggest difference between a dentist and a prosthodontist generally comes down to the principle that the primary goal of a dentist is to repair teeth and ensure that they remain healthy, while the primary goal of a prosthodontist is to replace teeth and ensure proper oral function throughout the mouth. A prosthodontist is a dentist who has received extensive training in replacing natural teeth lost due to old age, trauma, or poor oral hygiene maintenance.
Among the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, a prosthodontist focuses on repairing damaged teeth or replacing missing teeth with artificial devices such as dental implants, dentures, crowns, bridges and veneers. If you feel like you've lost a tooth or are about to lose one, you should see a prosthodontist right away. Maxillofacial prosthodontists treat patients with congenital head and neck area insufficiency due to congenital deficiency, cancer, surgery, or trauma. The primary goal of a prosthodontist is to provide their patient with the strongest, healthiest and brightest smile possible. According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), prosthodontists specialize in restoring and replacing missing teeth and oral structures with natural, functional replacements.
We know that a prosthodontist deals with the replacement and restoration of missing teeth as well as many other complex dental procedures. Becoming a prosthodontist involves three additional years of study after earning either a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree. Prosthodontists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of complex dental problems which require extensive clinical experience and knowledge.
