There are nine specialties that are formally recognized by associations like the American Dental Association, the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Those specialties include endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial radiology, prosthodontics, and dental public health. Each specialty is assigned to a particular area of the complex field of dentistry that is devoted to maintaining the healthy state of the teeth, gums, and related areas of a patient. Of that list of nine, a prosthodontist is the one to see when a patient has missing or deficient teeth.
For patients with missing or damaged teeth there can be a great deal of difficulty or discomfort associated with chewing. Furthermore, missing teeth contribute to low self confidence. There is also a heightened risk of other health issues in these cases. A prosthodontist is responsible for the diagnosis of a problem as well as the planning of treatments to remedy it. He or she will aid in the rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, health, and appearance following any necessary procedures. The prosthodontist is the dentist whose expertise is in implant and reconstructive dentistry. In other words, prostheses such as crowns and complete dentures are placed in a patient’s mouth to counteract the negative effects of missing or damaged teeth. Such a procedure requires extra skills and a further understanding of head and neck anatomy, biomedical and biomaterial sciences, and bite function so those wishing to pursue a career in prosthodontics after dental school must get further postgraduate specialty training.
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