Although almost everyone has some minor dental concerns, like small cracks and fissures, there are some who, unfortunately, have a lot going on with their dentition. It may be because of a serious accident, genetics, or a bad case of prolonged improper dental hygiene, but there are some cases of serious dental problems, that cannot be fixed by regular dental procedures and restorations. For a patient who has a severely-damaged set of teeth and gums, a fix sounds like a miracle. Thankfully, with prosthodontic treatments, the "miracle fix" is now possible.
Prosthodontics is a specialized type of dentistry that combines aesthetics and dental restoration, using modern technology, and state-of-the-art facilities. Highly-skilled Oxon Hill MD dentist will undergo additional education to become a prosthodontist, and provide all-around care and treatment for patients with severe dental issues -- from diagnosis, to rehabilitation, up to maintenance. They perform a wide range of dental restoration procedures, collectively called a smile makeover, to repair highly-damaged teeth, and fix complicated dentition problems. Their service even extends up to the gums, the jaw, and some facial muscles.
The goal of prosthodontics is to give patients a natural and beautiful smile using dental restorations that are safe, comfortable, and long lasting. Aside from the overall appearance of the final outcome, the prosthodontist also takes the function, and the longevity of the restorations into consideration. It is important for a prosthodontist to work closely with the patient in identifying all possible restoration and prosthodontic treatment options available. There are numerous treatments that a prosthodontist can perform depending on the severity of the damage in a patient's dentition.
For mild dental damages like cracks, grooves, and partially-chipped teeth, a prosthodontist usually recommends dental fillings, veneers, and other cemented restorations such as inlays and onlays. Using composite resin or other synthetic material, the crack, groove, or chip of the impacted tooth will be filled to make it look whole again. Veneers are special types of dental treatment that totally covers the front part of the teeth, to make them appear undamaged and healthy. These restorations are strengthened with dental adhesives and, with proper care and maintenance, can last for years.
A prosthodontist has a lot of options for cases of gaps because of a missing tooth, or for a severely-damaged tooth that cannot be fixed with a filling. Dental crowns and bridges are restorations that use the same material as dental fillings. However, they cover a larger area, and they require some remaining teeth to be reduced, as they will be used as the clamp for the restorations. Another option is to have a patient wear partial or full dentures. Dentures, also called "false teeth", are made from a combination of metal, plastic, and composite resin attached to a plastic base, and are worn by a patient like a mouthpiece. For extreme cases, a prosthodontist may suggest replacing missing teeth with dental implants. These are tiny metal posts, usually made of titanium, that are drilled to a patient's jaw to hold a dental crown.
No matter how serious a person's dental problem is, the right prosthodontic treatment can make a miracle come true, so everyone can enjoy having a healthy, beautiful smile.