5 Reasons To See A Prosthodontist Instead Of Your Usual Dentist
Getting dental care is important no matter the status of your smile, but missing teeth are best handled by experienced dentists. Prosthodontists specialize in creating prosthetic dental devices, and they also tend to focus on oral surgery, TMJ stabilization, and cleft palette improvements too. The extra training and specialized experience of the prosthodontist helps you get better treatment results in these five ways.
Better Implant Results
Whether you want a full plate denture set anchored by posts or independent dental implants, you need the help of an expert for good results. Dental implants anchored in the jaw can fail because of problems like
- Infections setting in due to poor oral hygiene before or after installation
- A lack of jaw bone tissue due to too much time passing between the loss of a tooth and the implant surgery
- Rare reactions to the materials of the implant post
- Damage to the gum tissue and nerves running through it
Working with a prosthodontist can help you avoid all of these problems. If the dentist detects too much damage to the gum tissue or bone loss when you come in a consultation, they can restore your oral health with other surgeries and treatments first.
Customized Device Sets
Want to use a partial denture or bridge in the front of the mouth and permanent dental implants for your molars? Let a specialist in dental appliances handle the coordination for the various parts of a custom set of mixed devices. The prosthodontist can figure out a way to attach the bridge wires to the implant posts instead of your remaining natural teeth without putting too much stress on the posts anchoring the implants.
Visual Improvements
Of course, prosthodontists don't just handle your care when you are missing teeth or planning extractions. These dental specialists also tend to offer aesthetic improvements for clients that go beyond the usual whitening and straightening. The best veneers and caps also come from dentists who can design them from scratch to match the natural look of your smile. If you don't want the usual out of the box look provided by veneers, find a dentist with sculpting skills.
Snoring Treatments
The same dentist installing your implants or adjusting your bridge can provide customized treatments for snoring. Aside from CPAP machines, carefully measured dental mouthpieces are the most effective way to manage sleep apnea symptoms that leave you tired no matter how much sleep you get. Only an experienced dentist can create a mouthpiece that holds the mouth open just enough to keep the airways clear.
Of course, the prosthodontist works with patients experiencing TMJ too. This disorder also occurs during sleep, but it leaves the jaw joints painfully sore and puts a lot of wear on your tooth enamel. If your dentist tells you that TMJ is damaging your mouth, make an appointment with a prosthodontist to get a customized mouth piece to correct the condition.
Preserved Natural Teeth
Even with a cap or crown attached, a stabilized natural tooth is stronger than an implant or partial denture. Visiting a dentist that focuses on saving natural teeth leaves your smile in better shape and increases your bite strength for better chewing habits. If you crack a tooth or experience cavity damage that compromises the structure of a molar, visit a prosthodontist first for prompt care.
Are you searching for a prosthodontist and don't know where to turn? Ask your current primary dentist for a referral to a specialist, especially if you need someone within a specific insurance network. Finding dental specialists who are willing to work together is the best way to get all the different types of oral health care you need. You can also click here for more information on dental services in your area.