Prosthodontics is a form of dentistry that focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral conditions related to missing teeth and damaged maxillofacial tissues. Simply put, it is dedicated to replacing missing or damaged teeth. Prosthodontists are trained to create and install dental restorations and prostheses to help you regain oral function. They are the experts to go to when you have missing or damaged teeth that are affecting your bite force, facial symmetry, and smile. Below, is an analysis of the five top treatments prosthodontics Koreatown provides to restore your teeth.
Table of Contents
Also called a cap, a dental crown is a dental device used to cover damaged teeth. Prosthodontists generally use it to treat cracked or extensively decayed teeth, which can be very painful. During your treatment, your provider cleans out the decay – where necessary – and covers the top of the tooth with a crown. The protective layer formed by the crown protects your tooth from further breakage or bacterial infection and decay. It also restores your bite force.
Dental implants are small, ceramic, or titanium posts used to replace tooth roots. They are surgically implanted into the jawbone to mimic your natural roots. After implantation, your prosthodontist leaves them in place for several months to allow your bone tissue to grow around them. This makes dental implants one of the most permanent and reliable teeth replacement options. Once your bone heals, your prosthodontist uses an abutment to attach the implant to teeth replacement solutions like bridges, crowns, or dentures to give you a full smile.
Dental bridges comprise an artificial tooth bordered by two dental crowns on each side. The crowns are usually placed over your natural teeth, with the artificial tooth positioned to fit in the space in between – typically left by a missing tooth. This treatment prevents the rest of your teeth from shifting into the space left by a missing tooth – a situation that can cause misalignment.
Your prosthodontist may recommend inlays or onlays when your teeth are too damaged for fillings but not damaged enough to necessitate crowns. Inlays and onlays are customizable tooth restorations that fit into your teeth’ structure like a puzzle piece. They come in handy when your cavity is too big to fit a dental filling, and there is damage to the teeth cusps. Essentially, your dentist fashions an inlay or onlay from a biocompatible resin and then fits it into your cavity to form a whole tooth.
Dentures are artificial replacement options that look and function like natural teeth. Dentures can be partial or full in that they can be used to replace several missing teeth in different parts of your mouth or an entire arch. Moreover, dentures are removable and can often be removed in the evenings to clean your teeth. One common concern with dentures is that they can shift in your mouth when you eat or speak, causing slurring and spitting. Your prosthodontist can avoid this problem by fitting you with implant-supported dentures instead of regular dentures.
The prosthodontics branch of dentistry involves multiple procedures designed to give you a full smile with total function. Whether you lost your teeth to injury, illness, or old age, a prosthodontist can help you find the best solution to your missing teeth. The treatment will restore your smile and bite force while protecting your remaining teeth from future damage. If you wish to learn more, contact a certified prosthodontist and schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options.
Leave a Reply