Specialist Dentistry and Treatments For Missing Teeth
A Specialist Dentist who has qualified in Prosthodontics is known as a Prosthodontist. He/She will have carried out further postgraduate training and is included on a specialist list with respect to offering dental treatments involving the replacement of missing teeth or other structures of the mouth. The treatment cases he/she may deal with are complex in nature and therefore require a holistic approach to full mouth reconstruction. His/her role will involve diagnosis, treatment planning and an assessment of the patient’s bite and aesthetics and the dentistry carried out will often be extensive and may include both reconstructive and restorative elements.
A Prosthodontist will treat patients who may have missing, worn out or decayed and eroded teeth or they may have poorly fitting false teeth, facial pain or advanced gum disease.
You may end up visiting a Prosthodontist as a result of referral from your dentist and probably due to the complex and precise nature of the dental treatment you will require.
Your Prosthodontist will work closely alongside your dentist and dental hygienist (as well as any other dental professionals you may need to see e.g.; dental technicians) to manage your dental case and meet your dental needs and restore you to good oral health and function.
Some of the treatment options a Prosthodontist may offer for replacing missing teeth are outlined below:
False teeth or Removable Dentures: These can be partial ( and therefore used to replace a few missing teeth ) or complete (and therefore used to replace a full set of teeth) .
Dental crowns ,also known as caps, are used to repair broken or decayed teeth. They are usually made from porcelain but they can also come in a range of other materials such as gold.
A crown is fitted like a cover over a tooth surface to both repair and protect it from damage and also to restore function and aesthetics to the affected tooth or teeth. Crowns are often utilised in smile makeovers to change the shape, size, colour, appearance and/or orientation of teeth. They are also a useful dental treatment option alongside a bridge or partial denture to provide support and stability to the tooth or teeth being restored.
A Dental Bridge is an appliance which is utilised to replace one (or several) missing teeth by creating a ‘bridge’ by permanently attaching a fixture to one or more of your existing teeth to add the missing tooth.
Dental Bridges are usually fixed and cannot be removed by the patient. They come in a variety of materials for improved aesthetics.
For more information on Prosthodontics and Specialist Dental treatments or other cosmetic dentistry treatments, listen to some of our patients discussing their dental treatments and recommend a good Derby dentist
You can also view before and after images of cosmetic dentistry procedures carried out by our Derby dentists and specialist on our smile gallery
