When you lose or damage teeth, you can seek the help of a general dentist. But if you wish to receive specialist treatment for lost or damaged teeth, you can turn to prosthetic dentistry. Just as you can use a prosthetic arm to replace a lost limb, you can also use a prosthetic tooth to replace a tooth. This branch of dentistry is called prosthetic dentistry.

Prosthetic dentists study to become specialists

As mentioned earlier, general dentists can replace lost teeth with prostheses like crowns and veneers, but they are not specialists in this field. Prosthetic dentists, on the other hand, study for an additional three years to specialize in prosthetic dentistry. That additional education allows prosthetic dentists to use prostheses to treat many types of dental issues.

Sometimes, general or family dentists will refer their patients to a prosthetic dentist for complicated cases.

Prosthetic dentistry can restore lost or broken teeth                            

If you have lost or damaged one or more teeth, then a prosthetic dentist can replace or bolster those teeth with an appropriate prosthesis. There are several main types of dental prostheses, which this article will discuss.

Dental implants

If you have lost a tooth, you can replace that tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants consist of a titanium post, which acts as a tooth root, and a dental crown, which replaces the lost tooth.

Dental crowns

Dental crowns replace the upper portion of badly damaged teeth. Crowns are usually made of porcelain and fit over the damaged portions of teeth, allowing patients to eat, talk and smile with comfort and confidence.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges replace one or more teeth and usually consist of at least one crown and one false tooth. A prosthetic dentist can also combine a dental bridge with dental implants for more stability and longevity.

Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover the fronts of teeth, usually in the smile zone. Porcelain veneers are great for stained or badly worn teeth that have lost their natural colour.  

Dentures

Dentures consist of an acrylic base and false teeth. This prosthesis is cheaper than dental implants for replacing teeth but cannot help to halt the bone loss that follows tooth loss, unlike dental implants. A prosthetic dentist can combine a denture with dental implants to give the denture more stability.

Mouthguards

Prosthetic dentists use mouthguards for patients that grind their teeth at night or suffer from breathing issues like sleep apnea.

If you need to replace damaged or lost teeth, then prosthetic dentistry is the answer. Find a prosthetic dentist near you to benefit from specialist dental care.