A healthy, complete smile plays a vital role in your overall well-being, affecting your ability to eat, speak, and interact confidently with others. Dental prostheses, like implants and dentures, are essential for restoring smiles affected by missing or damaged teeth.
At Spectrum Dental & Prosthodontics, your reliable prosthodontist in Columbus, we want to help you achieve a stunning, functional smile through advanced prosthetic solutions.
What Is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist with advanced training in restoring and replacing teeth. They complete an additional three years of specialized education beyond dental school, focusing on the art and science of dental prosthetics.
Prosthodontists are experts in the manufacture, design, and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth and other parts of the mouth, ensuring optimal function and aesthetics.
What Does a Prosthodontist Do?
Prosthodontists provide a wide range of services to restore oral function and appearance, including:
Dental Implants
Prosthodontists design and place dental implants to replace missing teeth, providing a stable, long-lasting solution that looks and functions like natural teeth. The process involves surgically inserting a titanium post into the jawbone, which becomes the root of the new tooth.
After the post integrates with the bone, an abutment and crown are placed to complete the restoration.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are custom-made caps that cover damaged or weakened teeth to improve their shape, strength, and appearance. Bridges are used to fill gaps left by missing teeth, consisting of one or more artificial teeth anchored by crowns on adjacent natural teeth or implants.
Dentures
Prosthodontists design full and partial dentures to replace multiple missing teeth. Full dentures replace all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while partial dentures fill in gaps between remaining teeth.
Modern dentures are made from high-quality materials that mimic the look and feel of natural teeth, providing a comfortable and functional solution.
Veneers
Veneers are thin porcelain shells crafted to cover the front surface of teeth. They enhance the appearance of teeth by correcting issues such as discoloration, chips, gaps, and minor misalignments.
Veneers are custom-made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, offering an effective way to achieve a radiant smile.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are custom restorations used to repair teeth with moderate decay or damage. Inlays fit within the contours of the tooth, while onlays extend over one or more cusps. Made from durable materials such as porcelain or composite resin, these restorations offer a strong and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional fillings.
TMJ/TMD Treatment
Prosthodontists specialize in treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles.
Treatment may involve the use of occlusal splints, physical therapy, medications, or, in severe cases, surgical interventions.
What Do I Need to Bring for My Appointment with a Prosthodontist?
To ensure a successful consultation with your prosthodontist, bring the following items to your appointment:
- Dental Records: If you have previous dental records, X-rays, or treatment plans, bring them along to provide a comprehensive overview of your dental history.
- Medical History: Inform your prosthodontist about any medical conditions, medications, or allergies you have, as these can affect your treatment plan.
- List of Questions: Prepare a list of questions or concerns you may have about your dental health or the proposed treatments.
- Insurance Information: Bring your dental insurance card and any necessary forms to facilitate the billing process.
Restore Your Smile with the Help of a Prosthodontist in Columbus
Whether you need dental implants, crowns, bridges, or other prosthetic solutions, Spectrum Dental & Prosthodontics has the necessary solutions to make the perfect smile happen. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
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