Prosthodontics FAQ’s

Prosthodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognised by the American Dental Association. A Prosthodontists is a dental specialist in the replacement and restoration of teeth and smile to meet patients appearance and also functional requirements such as chewing and speech.

Thanks to significant advances in dental science and technology in the last number of years Prosthodontists, because of their training and experience can offer patients a wide range of professional services and treatments to enhance their quality of life.

When it comes to having comfortable, well functioning, and pleasing teeth Prosthodontists have acquired the specific skills to address conditions, which negatively affect the mouth and face and also a person’s smile.

Prosthodontists receive three years of full time additional education in an accredited university postgraduate program after first graduating as a dentist. Prosthodontists have acquired the necessary experience and expertise to accept patients who present with more demanding or complex dental problems or expectations and require specialist input to resolve.

Many of the problems Prosthodontists deal with result from the loss or damage to individual teeth or groups of teeth. Such problems may have arisen from previous complex dental work which is failing and requires replacement, or, from the effect of the progression of dental diseases such as tooth decay or gum disease.
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Prosthodontists also have experience in dealing with congenital or developmental syndromes or problems resulting form oral cancers or other acquired conditions. Significant damage to teeth, which provide challenging treatment scenarios also benefit from Prosthodontic expertise.

You want an overview of all your treatment options from a professional with the necessary specialist Expertise and Experience. Prosthodontists have the necessary training in the sequencing, delivery and maintenance of comprehensive restorative dental care for a wide range of diverse patient requirements.

The types of treatment interventions provided by Prosthodontists include Crowns, Bridges, Veneers, Dental Implants, Bonding and Denture treatments. Prosthodontists are expert in the provision of Sleep Apnoea and Sleep Bruxing (Tooth Grinding) mouthpieces.
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A crown is a restoration that covers the surface of the tooth and restores its function and appearance. Crowns are indicated for heavily filled teeth, teeth that have had a root canal treatment or teeth that have fractured or are discoloured or misshapen. An alternative to a crown could be a veneer or a bonded restoration.
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Dental implants are essentially screws, which are inserted into the jawbone to support one tooth or a number of teeth. They can also be used to support the replacement of all missing teeth if the patient wears a complete denture. Dental implants are most commonly made of titanium, which has been found to physically bond to bone. The implant when placed heals in the same manner as a fractured bone would.

The process is called osseointegration between thee implant and the jawbone. This treatment has revolutionised many of the solutions for the replacement of missing teeth. Alternatives to dental implant treatment to replace missing teeth could be bridges or removable dentures.

Alternatives to dental implant treatments depending on the number of missing teeth could be fixed bridgework or removable dentures.
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A common method of replacing a missing tooth consists of the fabrication of a bridge. To replace a missing tooth with a bridge at least on tooth on either side of the missing tooth space must be prepared for a support. The bridge is then cemented or “fixed” on to the supporting teeth similarly to a crown and is not removable from the mouth. An alternative to this treatment could be a dental implant or a removable denture.
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Complete Dentures are used to restore the function and appearance including facial height and lip support for many people who have lost all their teeth. The successful wearing of dentures is determined by the stability of the denture and how well it is retained i.e. how tight it is especially during chewing. While many people can wear complete dentures successfully the technology has now caught up with many of the problems encountered by frustrated denture wearers. The selective use of dental implants to support dentures improves the fit and reduces the loosening of dentures and can greatly improve the overall denture experience for many patients. This can significantly contribute to the quality of life of the individual who has had the experience of wearing complete dentures.

A removable partial denture is a used to replace a number of missing teeth where a number of other teeth remain. This treatment aims to restore function and appearance for the patient. The device is removable and requires daily cleaning outside the mouth. Alternative treatments for partial dentures include implant supported crowns and tooth supported fixed bridges.
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Porcelain veneers are used to modify the shape and color of teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are etched and then bonded to the enamel of the teeth. Tooth preparation is necessary to avoid over bulking of the tooth, but it is limited to the enamel and usually involves only a few surfaces of the tooth. Veneers are complex restorations and require expertise in the design and delivery. Excellent technical back up is required as with many Prosthodontic procedures for an optimal result.
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Bonding means the use of tooth coloured filling materials to restore front and back teeth. These materials are physically and chemically bonded to the remaining structure to replace or re-contour a damaged or decayed or misshapen tooth. It can be an effective way to restore the appearance and function of a tooth but is limited by the amount of solid tooth structure available to build on.
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Many products are now available for patients to whiten their teeth. These products include commercially available strips, custom fabricated trays with a whitening gel or whitening in a dental office using light or laser as the catalyst.

Unsupervised and excessive use of whitening solutions or using solutions which contain too high a concentration of whitening gels can cause damage to your teeth. Some tooth enamel is unsuitable for whitening treatments and the procedure should be avoided in these cases.

These are specifically designed mouthpieces, fitted and adjusted by an experienced clinician, to advance the lower jaw and contribute to improved breathing during sleep. Careful monitoring of the tolerance and efficacy of these devices is an essential aspect of this service. Prosthodontists provide oral devices for patients who have been diagnosed with sleep disordered breathing, such as Snoring and Sleep Apnoea.

Sleep apnoea is a significant medical condition which is in many cases amenable to treatment with customised oral devices. Snoring is commonly but not always associated with sleep apnoea but can cause significant disturbance to the sleep of others.

Prosthodontists work with Physicians and Surgeons following a medical diagnosis in assisting patients who would benefit from the use oral appliances.
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Tooth Grinding or Sleep Bruxism is the unconscious rubbing together of the teeth at night and can lead to significant wear and damage including fractures to the teeth themselves and to dental restorations like fillings, crowns and bridges etc..Bruxing can also cause pain and discomfort. In some cases grinding can be the cause of gum disease.

Prosthodontists provide management for these problematic bite issues by providing range of customised protective mouthpieces worn during sleep which can be made to protect both the teeth and existing dental work from the stresses of this damaging habit. Monitoring and adjustments to these appliances form a necessary part of this service.
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Gastric reflux is a medical condition which describes a backflow of acid from the stomach into the oesophagus and sometimes the mouth.

Significant erosion of dental enamel a dissolving of tooth structure can result from this condition. This can alter dental appearance and also cause significant tooth sensitivity due to the loss of the enamel coating on the teeth. These are the most negative effects resulting from Gastric reflux effecting dental structures in the mouth.
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