What is a Prosthodontist?

A Prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in replacing or restoring teeth that have been lost or seriously damaged due to accident or disease. The Prosthodontist in Woodbury NY is expert at restoring the appearance and the function of these damaged or missing teeth. When a prosthodontist is called upon to assess a situation he or she will take into account the function of the mouth as well as comfort and aesthetics and then a treatment plan will be developed. When the treatment plan has been determined then the procedure will be carried out, in many cases with the complete agreement of the patient. A prosthodontist will work very closely with other professionals including dental technicians and lab technicians.

A prosthodontist in Woodbury NY has received extensive training in many different procedures which include the application of tooth veneers, crowns, implants, caps and other cosmetic procedures. The same dental specialists are educated in the treatment of disorders such as excessive nighttime teeth grinding, TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction) and sleep apnea. TMJ is of particular importance as the disorder results in painful jaws and excessive tooth wear.

A maxillofacial prosthodontist does not limit his or her work to the patient’s teeth; this specialist focuses on the entire face of the patient. There are many who are born with abnormalities to the palate, teeth or ears as well as those who have suffered trauma to the same areas as a result of disease or an accident. A maxillofacial prosthodontist will often be called upon to perform surgery on the face or jaw, many of these specialists work in a hospital; setting rather than a typical dental clinic environment.

A maxillofacial prosthodontist in Woodbury NY often works in close cooperation with other medical specialists such as plastic surgeons, neurologists, general dentists, speech pathologists, etc. The primary goal of those who are involved in this specialty is to improve the overall quality of life to the individuals who suffer from abnormalities or trauma.

A prosthodontist must first graduate from dental school after which an additional two or three years of training and advanced education must be taken in a hospital which is accredited by the ADA, American Dental Association. Once this advanced training has been completed the candidate must complete a series of oral and written examinations. Once the examinations have been passed the candidate will become a Board Certified Prosthodontist who can then work in private practice or return to academia where he or she will train those who aspire to be a prosthodontist in Woodbury NY.

All about dental implants in Woodbury NY

                                                           

Dental implants were perfected in the early 1950s and today they are considered the gold standard for the replacement of missing teeth. A dental implant is a dental fixture that actually fuses with the patient’s jawbone forming a new “root” so to speak, the root is a titanium component that actually looks like a screw. Once the root has fused with the jawbone a receptacle is fitted along with a tooth or a fixture designed to hold a bridge or dentures. Dental implants are the closest thing there is to a real tooth, they do not require support from adjacent teeth as they are perfectly stable due to the fusion to the bone. The success rate today is almost 98 percent and anyone who can withstand a dental procedure is an excellent candidate for an implant.

When are dental implants needed?

Dental implants can be used as a single tooth replacement, multiple teeth or an implant can act as the anchor point for a bridge or dentures.

There are only three options when it comes to teeth replacement; a removal appliance such as a full or partial denture, a fixed bridge or a dental implant. When deciding which is best for you there are a few factors to take into account:

1. The location of the missing tooth or teeth
2. The quality of the jawbone at the implant site
3. The patient’s general health
4. Preference and cost

The nest person to make the assessment and the subsequent recommendation of course is the dentist who will perform the work.

There is little doubt that a replacement tooth is a superior solution to a removal denture or bridge. With a dental implant there is no need to involve other teeth as the implant stands alone and because implants bond with the underlying jawbone they are extremely stable, they look and feel like natural teeth and they will usually last a lifetime.

Is the procedure painful?

The days of painful dental procedures are long gone, dental implant surgery is accomplished while the patient is under a local anesthetic and there is no pain during the procedure. Of course, once the anesthetic has worn off there will be post operative discomfort and this depends very much on the patient. In most cases the discomfort is no more or no less than having a tooth extracted and can be managed by OTC pain relievers.