Your family dentist that you should see every six months is there to help keep your teeth healthy and looking pearly white. They’re also there to help keep gum disease at bay and catch it before it gets too bad. But what happens when you need something more than pearly whites, like dental implants? While many dentists will tell you they can handle more complex procedures, it may be in your best interest to seek out the opinion of a prosthodontist. You may be asking yourself, what’s the difference between a dentist and a prosthodontist in Bethlehem, PA? The short answer: a prosthodontist has special skills and knowledge that your family dentist doesn’t.
What is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is a dental professional who has additional training and is able to over specialized care that a general dentist can’t. If you have missing teeth and are interested in having dental implants installed, wearing dentures, or wearing a different dental appliance, a prosthodontist has specialized training to help you decide which course of treatment is best for you and has the skills to restore your smile using state-of-the-art dental procedures. Prosthodontics are constantly being trained in the newest forms of dental treatment.
The Difference Between a Dentist and a Prosthodontist
If you need regular dental care, you know to seek out your family dentist. Teeth cleaning, whitening procedures, and cavities are all under the scope of your regular dentist. When you need braces to align your teeth or improve the way your jaw fits together, your dentist will recommend an orthodontist. But a prosthodontist is needed when something needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Prosthodontists are also used when you’ve suffered a traumatic injury to your mouth from a car accident, sporting accident, or a fall.
A prosthodontist can repair or replace teeth that have been badly damaged and help your remaining teeth from shifting out of place. If your mouth has been damaged or disfigured due to cancer, cleft palate, TMJ, or TMD, a prosthodontist can reconstruct those areas of your mouth.
For basic dental care, your family dentist is a fine choice, but if you need to have specialized complex work done, such as dental implants, call a prosthodontic specialist at Advanced Prosthodontics at (610) 865-4222.