Prosthodontics

You probably don’t know about prosthodontics if you have never required a crown or lost teeth, as this field of dentistry focuses on fixing missing teeth. Prosthodontic experts are trained professionals who treat various oral and dental issues and offer expert care according to each patient’s needs. If you want to know about prosthodontic treatments, don’t stop reading till the end.

What is Prosthodontics?

This branch of dentistry is related to the restoration of lost teeth due to any condition, or you have a jaw problem. Prosthodontists restore both function and appearance of gums and teeth. They make sure that you look attractive and have no problem during chewing, smiling, or eating.

Why do you need a prosthodontist?

The following are the condition when you should visit a prosthodontist:

If you have injured, lost or decayed teeth.
If you want help to regain the loss of function due to missing teeth such as speaking or chewing.
They also advise patients to avoid future intervention by taking adequate care of tooth implants.
If you want help and advice to address cosmetic issues such as restoration of smile altered due to missing teeth.
If you want a prosthetic substitute for tooth replacement.
If you wish to biocompatible and biological alternatives that would replace whole or part of your decayed or damaged teeth.
If you have problems with jaw joints or temporomandibular joint.

Are they different from dentists?

Prosthodontists are different from dentists. Dentists are only concerned with keeping your teeth functional and healthy. Whereas, prosthodontists deal with the restoration of lost teeth. You will get referred to a prosthodontist from a general dentist if the issue is outside primary dentistry.

Prosthodontics treatments

A variety of prosthodontic procedures are available and depend upon the condition of the teeth and gums. Some of the treatments methods are mentioned below:

Crowns

It is a restoration treatment used to either strengthen the teeth or improve the shape of the tooth. A crown acts as a cap on the tooth above the gums and covers the existing tooth completely. As a result, the crown becomes an outer new surface of the existing tooth. Crowns are made of metal or porcelain. As compared to metal crowns, porcelain crowns look more natural, which is why they are the most preferred choice.

Bridges

A bridge is a replacement for missing or lost one or more teeth. They help to reduce stress on the bite and also maintain your face shape. This replacement method includes bridging the gap with a prosthetic or artificial tooth. Even if you have lost multiple teeth, bridges can fill the gap. Bridges are bonded with the adjacent, intact tooth. They are made up of alloys, porcelain, and gold.

Implants

The implant consists of a complete tooth, just like our natural teeth. It is made of porcelain and metal. It has two main parts:

An implant is made of titanium that acts as the root and fits in place of the missing root.
On the top of the implant, a natural-looking, translucent crown is cemented.

That is why implants are different from crowns. Implants give you the confidence to smile without fear of people mocking you for your ugly, missing teeth.

Fillings

The purpose of a filling is to mend damaged teeth due to fractures, cracks, and decay. In this procedure, the prosthodontists fill the damaged teeth after removing the damaged or decayed part of the tooth. The filling is available in the form of different materials such as composite, plastic, ceramic, gold, and porcelain.

Veneers

The veneer is a reconstruction method in which a thin layer of translucent material is placed on the affected tooth’s front side. Veneers are used to cover worn teeth. The look of the veneer is very natural. They not only give you a beautiful smile but also protect the underlying tooth surface from further damage.

Dentures

These are removable natural-looking artificial teeth. It has two types: partial or full dentures. Partial dentures fill the gap left after your permanent tooth is removed. Complete dentures are given to people who lose all their natural, permanent teeth.

Occlusal Disease Treatment

It is the result of the misalignment of teeth. As a person bites with misaligned teeth, gradually, the teeth start wearing. Prosthodontists help by aligning the teeth so that jaws, teeth, and muscles balance the force of biting and chewing.

Preventive care

If you have any dental issues, you must get it checked. If you leave any dental condition untreated, it will lead to more unhealthy results.
Maintain good oral hygiene to decrease staining, plaque, and chipping of the teeth.
Avoid very hot food or food that is dark-colored such as coffee, to avoid damaging the implants or dentures.
If you remove, the denture is put in an immaculate and clean place so that you can use it again.