Prosthodontic Problems Treated

“Dedicated to the restoration of teeth with Crowns, Bridges, Dentures, Dental Implants, Dental Bonding and more…”

What type of Dental problems does a Prosthodontist take care of?

If you are about to lose or have lost a tooth or a number of teeth.
If you have extensive tooth wear erosion, fractured cracked teeth or restoration or present with jaw problems.
If you have complex existing dental treatment which requires supervision, maintenance or replacement
If you are having problems with or are seeking alternatives or improvements to troublesome dentures.
If you have a dental syndrome involving the absence or malformation of teeth or an unusual bite.
If you have specific concern about the appearance of you teeth and overall facial appearance.
If you have experienced significant tooth loss or damage to your teeth following trauma or cancer treatments.

After

Tooth Replacements

A Prosthodontist has acquired expertise to manage the replacement of missing teeth. A single tooth is most frequently replaced by a dental implant or a fixed bridge. Many missing teeth may require more complex dental treatment with a more extensive bridgework, implant or denture constructions.
The important thing to remember is that your clinical presentation is often unique in terms of what treatment options are feasible for the long term management of your dentition. What solutions are possible for you depends on your dental history (and in some cases your medical history), your presenting concerns, and, the detailed clinical diagnosis of your current dental health problems.
Dental health includes gum and tooth health, whether you are missing teeth and in the case of your suitability for implant placement, bone quantity and quality, in order to support dental implant placement or alternately denture treatments in the long term.

showing smile

Tooth Restorations

A Prosthodontist has acquired expertise in the restoration of damaged teeth. Teeth may require treatment for several reasons, most frequently necessitated by trauma or tooth decay. A single tooth, can be restored by a crown, veneer or inlay, or in the case of many teeth requiring restoration, more complex treatment planning may be indicated, involving a combination of possible treatment approaches.

Patients presenting with dental problems may have experienced tooth loss or damage through gum disease (either acquired or hereditary) dental trauma following accidents or ongoing dental decay. Patients also frequently present with missing or misshapen teeth due to congenital or developmental dental disorders or syndromes.

Medical conditions such as cancer treatments can also lead to extensive tooth loss or damage. We work closely with our medical colleagues to communicate concise patient detail to ensure the most optimal dental patient care is planned and provided.

Crown in place

Tooth Fractures

You may have a very common problem in one of your teeth.
Your teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods, ice, or by suddenly biting on an unexpected hard object. Teeth can also crack as a result of grinding your teeth, which can occur during sleep.

Teeth with or without restorations (fillings) may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with silver alloy (amalgam) and teeth that are heavily restored are most susceptible. Older persons have more cracked teeth than younger people.

Symptoms and Signs may include the following (sometimes referred to as “Cracked Tooth Syndrome”:

• Pain on chewing
• Pain on cold air application
• Spontaneous pain (usually leakage of sugar into tooth crack)
• No x-ray evidence of problem
• No dental decay present
• Easy verification of crack when tooth is prepared for restoration

Complex Cracked Tooth

Management of Cracked Teeth

Simple Crack: The majority of cracked teeth (about 8 out of 10) can be treated by providing a new restoration or by placement of a crown (cap) on the tooth. When the tooth is restored the pain usually resolves immediately. Some times due to the extent of the crack a crown will need to be prepared. If this is the case with your tooth a crown can be proceeded with and when fitted to the tooth the condition should be resolved.

Complex Crack: Occasionally, (about 1-2 in 10) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. If the pain persists after placement of the temporary restoration or temporary crown, you may have a crack into the pulp of the affected tooth. This tooth may require endodontic treatment (root canal therapy) before the crown is proceeded with. If this is the case, we will refer you to an endodontist for treatment prior to scheduling to begin finalising a crown fitting.

Prosthodontic Expertise

The objective of detailed consultation with a Prosthodontic Dental Specialist is to discuss the evaluation of your presenting oral health status and to arrive at a clear identification of both existing and potential dental problems.

Each patient’s dental and medical history are thoroughly appraised, discussed in detail (with the patient) and a treatment plan is drawn up. This forms the basis of the individual treatment intervention options, the costs of treatment options and the time it will take to have the dental care completed. Dental radiology patient images and patient study models of the teeth and jaw arrangement are also included.

Dr Ed Owens, the Beacon Dental Clinic’s Prosthodontist, is qualified to treat nervous patients requiring intravenous sedation. We have the required skills and facilities to work with our consultant anesthetist to ensure all aspects of patient care are managed, should patient sedation be required to accomplish treatment goals.

(We also treat adult special needs patients. The care of these patient groups requires substantial coordinated planning and the specific requirement of each patient are detailed well in advance of care.)

Common Dental Diseases effecting Prosthodontic Intervention Planning

Common Dental Diseases effecting Prosthodontic Intervention Planning
The identification and control of gum and dental disease risk factors is central to successful treatment. Good communication between each patient and his/her dental clinician, along with a substantial level of patient understanding of their individual treatment recommendations, is central to the success of dental care.

Restoration of dental function, a person’s ability to confidently eat, speak and smile is central to the success of care. The return of patient confidence through meeting these needs, (although complex in some situations) are central to our goals of prosthodontic care.

Prosthodontists because of their extensive training are in a central position to comprehensively organize, plan, communicate and sequence patient treatment planning. The identification of crucial patient dental needs, the identification and control of any evidence of a disease processes and the successful restoration and maintenance of dental health in the long term is the stated goal of care.

If indicated, a patient may need to be referred to an Endodontist (root canal specialist who creates a firm foundation onto which a tooth restoration can be placed, if required) or a Periodontist (gum specialist) who may be involved in the management of patients diagnosed with gum disease. Gum and bone grafting and the placement of implants, may also be indicated if patients have been assessed to be suitable for dental implants. The risks and benefits of dental implant treatment will always be thoroughly discussed (and the best treatment options available to each patient) with a qualified Prosthodontist, Periodontist or Oral Surgeon.

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