At Touro Dental Health, our prosthodontists help you achieve a healthy, confident smile. Using the latest technology and advanced materials our highly trained prosthodontic specialists will choose the proper restoration for your unique dental situation. Some of the options that are considered include crowns, bridges, dentures, and veneers. Our ultimate goal is to restore form and function, and for you to feel good about how your smile looks.
What is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist with three years of post-graduate training that focuses on the restoration and/or replacement of missing or damaged teeth. The teeth might be damaged or missing because of decay, infection, accidental trauma, or any number of oral conditions. Prosthodontists commonly replace missing or damaged teeth with bridges, dentures, or dental implants. They also provide cosmetic restorations such as crowns or veneers. This specialty training provides an additional level of expertise beyond the average general dentist when complicated treatment is required.
What is the Difference Between a Prosthodontist and a Dentist?
A general dentist graduates dental school able to provide basic dental care in all the dental specialties. Many general dentists provide the same services as a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist is a dentist with a specialized focus in performing complex dental restoration. Prosthodontists require 3 years of advanced training post-dental school. When a patient requires complicated treatment beyond the comfort zone of a particular general dentist, the general dentist may suggest a referral to a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist is an expert who finds the best solution even for complicated cases.
Restorative Dental Care in Westchester, NY
At Touro Dental Health, our prosthodontists aim to restore function and aesthetics to your smile. From simple restorations to complex full-mouth rehabilitations, we provide customized solutions tailored to your individual needs. Our team of prosthodontists work together with our dental students to provide the best care. Even if you need extensive dental work due to disease or traumatic injury, we’re here to resolve the most complex dental problems.
Visit our beautiful, spacious Hawthorne facility in Westchester County, NY. You can meet with one of our prosthodontists to discuss the best option for your dental health. Request an appointment.
When Should I See a Prosthodontist?
If you’re in need of complex dental care or prosthetic work, your dentist may refer you to a prosthodontist. Here at Touro, our prosthodontic services include fillings, inlays, onlays, laminates, bridges, dentures, and dental implants. We also treat TMJ disorders and occlusal issues.
Your first visit at Touro will include a comprehensive oral exam. You’ll also have a discussion with your dentist on the best steps to take for your oral health. If dental restoration is needed, you’ll be able to meet with a prosthodontist for a consultation during your next visit. Learn more about your first appointment.
Different Types of Restorative Dental Work
Today, patients have a wide range of options to restore their smile. Here are some of the main types of restorative procedures and dental prosthetics that are used at Touro and many other dental practices:
- Crowns - A dental crown, also known as a tooth cap, is a tooth-shaped covering that surrounds a damaged, broken, or decayed tooth, restoring your tooth’s shape, size, strength and appearance. Crowns act as both protection and a replacement for your tooth. Crowns are used to address various dental issues, including protecting a weak tooth, concealing imperfections, or restoring a tooth after other dental procedures like a root canal.
- Bridges - A dental bridge, or fixed prosthesis, is a cemented, non-removable dental prosthesis. Dental bridges help fill in or “bridge the gap” between missing teeth and help restore your smile’s appearance and function. A bridge consists of artificial teeth positioned between two or more supporting teeth, called abutments. Bridges restore the ability to chew and speak properly, maintain facial structure, and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty space.
- Dentures - Dentures, also known as false teeth, are oral appliances that replace missing teeth and their surrounding tissues in the upper and lower jaw. Most often they are removable. You can also get dentures that are supported by dental implants and these are fixed and not removable. Although commonly associated with older adults, people of any age may need to wear dentures. Dentures are dental prosthetics made from materials like resin, acrylic or porcelain. They can help with eating, speech, appearance and self-confidence. There are two main types of dentures. Complete dentures are made when all teeth are missing. A partial denture replaces only the teeth that are missing.
- Veneers and Laminates - Dental laminates (veneers) are thin, custom-made tooth surface coverings, typically made of porcelain or composite resin. They are about the thickness of a contact lens. They are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve look and function of your teeth. They can address various cosmetic issues such as discoloration, chipping, gaps or slight misalignments. While less invasive than a crown, because much less enamel is removed, veneers are designed to be a permanent procedure.
- Dental Inlays and Onlays - An inlay or onlay is a special type of dental restoration (filling) used to repair and restore damaged, broken or decayed teeth. Unlike traditional fillings that are directly placed in the mouth, inlays and onlays are made from an impression of the damaged, broken or decayed tooth after it has been shaped properly and any decay has been removed. This restoration may be sent to a dental laboratory or milled directly in the dental office. An onlay is generally larger than an inlay, somewhere between a filling and crown, and provides extra support to a damaged tooth compared to a normal filling. Which type of filling or crown is required depends on how much damage has been done to a tooth.
- Dental Implants - Dental implants are artificial tooth roots (screws), typically made of titanium that are surgically implanted into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth, teeth or a bridge. A post is placed in the implant to extend above the gumline, and a crown is attached. They offer a long-term solution for missing teeth, providing a natural look and feel, improving oral health. Learn more about our dental implant services.
When Should Patients Opt for Implants vs. Bridges or Dentures?
Most modern dental restoration looks remarkably realistic. Any restorative work will leave you with a happier, healthier smile. Usually, the primary question is not aesthetics but whether you want a fixed or removable dental prosthetic. A patient’s health is also an important concern. Some procedures (such as implants) can’t be undertaken if there are certain underlying health conditions.
Overall, dental implants when indicated for function and appearance are a great choice when you’re looking to replace lost teeth. Patients usually report implants allow for the best experience tasting food and the most natural sensation (as if the implants were just naturally part of their mouth). If you have a proper gum and bone support, but don’t want to undergo implant surgery, a fixed or removable prosthesis can be a good choice.
Why Choose Touro Dental for Restorative Dentistry?
At Touro Dental Health New York, we work closely with each individual patient to find the best restorative procedures that match their unique situation. You’ll also find some of the most affordable prices in New York state for prosthetic dentistry, because we’re a dental teaching center. Rest assured that our dental students are well-trained and always under the direct supervision of our excellent, and very experienced, dental clinicians and expert prosthodontists.
