What is a Prosthodontist?

A Prosthodontist is a dental specialist fully trained in the art and science of Prosthetic Dentistry. Prosthodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Typical training includes four years of dental school followed by three years of an advanced Prosthodontic program including restoration of dental implants, crowns, bridges, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, restorative dentistry, dentures, and treatment of temporomandibular joint disease.

A Prosthodontist provides an extremely high level of care for patients who are missing teeth or have significant damage to their existing teeth. Prosthodontists deal with congenital defects as well as problems arising from trauma and neglect. A Prosthodontist can aid in the rehabilitation of a complete dentition or the replacement of one or two teeth. With the advent of dental implants as a viable means of replacing teeth, the prosthodontists’ role has expanded substantially. The Prosthodontist works directly with the surgeon and supplies the control and expertise that is necessary to make an implant supported restoration look natural and function properly.

As our population ages, the role of the Prosthodontist becomes critical in maintaining a high standard of dental care. As people get older, their dental needs can become more complex and may require the assistance of a specialist.  Prosthodontists are trained to do the type of procedures that this segment of the population needs to maintain optimum function and esthetics.

For more information on Prosthodontists, please search the following link: http://www.prosthodontics.org/

Tooth Colored Fillings
Modern and natural tooth-colored fillings have become widely accepted and are often used in place of metallic restorations where aesthetics is a primary concern. There are even studies that show that in some cases, use of certain tooth-colored materials can strengthen a tooth, making it a better choice than the metallic predecessor - amalgam. Two basic types of tooth-colored restorations are used: composite and ceramic.

Composite resins have been used for many years however their chemical make-up has changed and improved exponentially. The bonding agents used to make the composites adhere to the tooth have improved just as dramatically. Because of the improvements, the use of composites has become widely accepted by dentists and the indications for their use are more numerous. They are being used to close undesirable spaces, improve the shape, size and color of a tooth, replace an unsightly amalgam restoration, cover abraded or worn areas of a tooth (usually at the gum line) and to cover stains. Composites can also be used to protect thermally sensitive areas and to repair and strengthen broken teeth.

Cosmetic Bonding
Bonding is a great way to correct slightly chipped, stained, injured, or otherwise imperfect teeth. During the procedure, a delicate layer of resin material is painted and shaped onto the damaged teeth, adding strength and making the restoration blend into the natural tooth. Unlike veneers, which are fabricated in a laboratory and require a customized mold, bonding can be done in a single visit. The procedure is called bonding because the material intimately attaches or bonds to the tooth surface. Bonding can also be used to reduce sensitivity from areas where the gum has receded by being directly applied to the exposed root of the tooth.

Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
Porcelain inlays and onlays are an excellent, conservative solution to larger cavities. Virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, inlays and onlays are cemented or bonded to the remaining tooth. They discreetly restore teeth to an optimal state of health and strength when larger fillings are necessary.

Crowns
Crowns are dental restorations otherwise known as “caps” which are natural looking laboratory made replacements for your own tooth. Crowns are typically made of dental porcelain and are fabricated to improve your overall smile or blend in with your own teeth. Sometimes a metal shell is used under the porcelain if additional strength is needed. Crowns may become necessary when a tooth has lost significant amount of structure or becomes weakened due to a large failing filling, extensive decay, or a fracture. Crowns may sometimes be indicated when changes are needed for aesthetics. If a tooth has been treated for a root canal, a crown is the recommended treatment to protect the remaining brittle tooth structure.

Bridges
A Bridge is used to replace missing teeth with a fixed non-removable appliance. They can be used to replace one tooth or nearly all the teeth in your mouth, thus having both a functional and an aesthetic importance. Without replacing lost teeth, the surrounding teeth in the area are allowed to drift and could ultimately change your bite. A well-made bridge is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Full Dentures
If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth and your smile. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture, facial muscles sag, which will give a person an older look. You’ll be able to eat and speak- things that people often take for granted until their natural teeth are lost.
There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional full denture is made and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed. An immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The denture wearer thus would never have to go without teeth during the healing period.
With the advent of dental implants, current denture wearers have the good fortune of being able to help support and even replace their dentures.

Dental Implants
If you're missing one tooth or more, you may find that there are other things you miss. You may miss your natural smile. You may miss the ability to chew apples, crackers and other food you desire. Maybe you feel self-conscious about your teeth and mouth, or discomfort as remaining teeth shift. Conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing lost teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a solution that looks and feels like your own natural teeth. Surgically placed below the gums and into the jaw bone, implants fuse to the bone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Implants offer stability because the bone grows onto the implant in a process called osseo-integration. Once this fusion has occurred, the implant can be used in a variety of situations to support teeth replacements. This allows for more natural and comfortable substitutes for lost teeth.
Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether an implant is right for you.

Porcelain Laminates
Porcelain laminates are the most aesthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They require a minimal amount of tooth reduction (approximately .5mm) and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown. The thin custom-made porcelain shells are designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. Made of various shades to exactly match your teeth, veneers are used to close spaces between your teeth as well as repairing chipped, worn, stained, poorly shaped, or slightly crooked teeth. Prior to placement of porcelain laminates, patients will often bleach their teeth so as to place a lighter shade laminate (see bleaching below). Porcelain laminates look very natural, are long lasting, and do not stain. They are the perfect choice for someone who desires a more beautiful smile.

Partial Dentures
Partial or removable dentures are appliances that are worn to replace missing teeth. Partial dentures are held in place with either metal clasps or interlocking precision fit connections that are supported by the remaining natural teeth. They are a good, low cost option for people missing some teeth.

Teeth Whitening
Tobacco, soft drinks, coffee, tea, poor hygiene and natural aging can leave behind ugly stains on your teeth. Bleaching offers a conservative and non-invasive approach to creating the smile you’ve always desired. To help you restore your bright white smile and give you an added boost of confidence, we offer many options such as the amazing in-office Zoom 2 tooth whitening and an array of take-home bleaching procedures.

At- Home Bleaching
Bleaching your teeth at-home allows you to obtain a beautiful glistening smile while you sleep. A custom tray is made by the dental office to accurately fit your mouth. This tray is designed to hold the bleach intimately against your teeth. There are different concentrations of bleach that may be used depending on the severity of the staining. This technique generally provides excellent results within three weeks of use. The trays may be used again in about a year to remove future staining.

Zoom II Tooth Whitening
The Zoom II In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It’s safe, effective, and fast. In just over an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. Zoom Whitening is ideal for anyone seeking immediate results. The convenience of Zoom II, in comparison to the days of wearing trays and gradual whitening, makes it the perfect choice for the busy individual.

Intra- oral Camera
Educating our patients about their dental needs is a very important component to high quality treatment. The intra-oral camera allows the patient to better understand their dental needs by actually seeing what we see. It also enables us better diagnostic ability to see problem areas. The images are captured by a small wand-shaped camera and then appear in detail on a computer screen allowing ideal examination. Together we can discuss your treatment plan with you for restoring your mouth to optimal health.

Digital X-rays
Our office is using the Dexis digital X-ray system to provide even better dental care and more accurate diagnoses. The process of digitally capturing an image is much faster, safer and more comfortable for the patient. The sensors used are much more sensitive than regular x-ray film. By utilizing high-tech imaging, we are able to greatly reduce radiation exposure to the patient while tremendously enhancing our ability to read the x-rays. Instead of placing a large x-ray film in your mouth, we are able to use a small sensor wrapped in a sterile sleeve which is more comfortable to the patient. Once on the computer, the x-ray image can be enhanced to highlight specific conditions or areas which greatly aid co-diagnosis with the patient.

ProSelect 3 Scaler
The Proselect 3 scaler is the most sophisticated ultrasonic scaler on the market today. Unlike older ultrasonic machines, the ProSelect is able to remove the deposits under your gums with gentle vibrations providing much more patient comfort. The ultrasonic vibrations are strong enough to remove hard deposits (or calculus) and stains, but are gentle enough not to harm your gums or teeth. When the tip of the ultrasonic scaler is placed near calculus, it painlessly breaks down and removes the build-up. The Hygienist is then able to continue on with hand instruments to more thoroughly clean your teeth.

Oraqix
For those patients that would prefer local anesthetic application during their recall appointments, Oraqix may be the answer. It's the first FDA approved needle-free anesthetic agent which provides patients an option in anesthesia for scaling procedures. Instead of requiring injection of local anesthetics, Oraqix may be confined to the gum tissues so the patient doesn’t leave with a total numbing effect. Oraqix is applied with a blunt tip applicator and dispenser. Ask our hygienists about this fabulous product- it may be just the thing you’ve been looking for.

Arestin
For those patients with adult periodontitis, Arestin is a valuable adjunct to scaling and root planning procedures. It is a fast, easy way to help treat periodontal pockets. Arestin contains a tetracycline derivative which can be administered directly into the problem area. Although this product alone does not resolve periodontal pockets, it has been shown to greatly enhance the healing process.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is usually used in small amounts and mixed with oxygen to relax patients during dental procedures. Nitrous oxide reduces the fear and anxiety of a dental visit and often allows a dentist to work on a patient longer than without this effect. Because nitrous oxide does not numb teeth, it must be used in combination with routine dental anesthesia to treat dental patients. However, after being placed on nitrous oxide for a few minutes, many dental patients relax and are able to undergo their dental visit in relative calm. If you are interested in using nitrous oxide to make your dental visits more pleasant, please let us know at your initial visit.

Computer Shade Selection
The Shade Vision System offers dentists a method to improve the accuracy of dental color matching. The system provides a computer color image of the patients tooth that can be sent to a laboratory to create exact color matches.