A prosthodontist is a dental professional who is recognized by the American Dental Association as a dental specialist.
After their general dentistry training, prosthodontists receive an extra three years of specialty training in an accredited graduate program offered by the American Dental Association.
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Image Credit: Zazzle, Gifts for Periodontists
What is a periodontist?
A periodontist is a dental specialist who treats periodontal disease and related issues. All dentists receive training in preventing and treating periodontal issues, but severe or complex cases will usually be referred to a periodontist. “All periodontists must complete an additional two to three years of specialized training in periodontics following dental school” (American Academy of Periodontology).
It used to be that only teens were considered for orthodontic alignment. It seemed that it was worth investing in the appearance of a teen’s smile, which usually meant “train track” braces. In the last few decades, however, more and more adults have sought orthodontic realignment of their teeth, as well. And now there is an option that can provide adult orthodontic realignment in many cases in a more esthetically pleasing, virtually invisible way (Invisalign).
Smile and the world smiles with you, as the saying goes. And it’s really true. Studies show that smiling really is contagious and can change a person’s entire mood. Studies have also shown that the more intense the smile (ideally involving the eyes) the better.
In addition, smiling:
Thirty years ago, it was a common dental practice for dentists to replace missing teeth with full or partial dentures. Dentists believed (and still do) that missing teeth needed to be replaced to ensure proper chewing function. They recognized that missing teeth could contribute to malnourishment, self-esteem issues and speech difficulties.
Along with all the hoopla about dental implants and their advantages in replacing missing teeth comes the new promise of “teeth in a day”.
In fact, Dental Partners of Brookline does offer services of Teeth In One Visit and Teeth In An Hour Treatment!
One of the most common decisions for dental patients who are faced with treating a decayed or fractured tooth is between a root canal and placement of a dental implant. Not every patient will be a candidate for root canal treatment and not every patient will be a candidate for an implant-based crown or bridge. Each treatment plan recommendation will be based on each patient’s needs and dental circumstances.
One of the most common reasons people put off even basic dental cleanings is simply that they cost a lot of money. But here are three reasons that make your mouth worth the investment.
If you’ve ever bitten down on a crusty piece of bread or an unpopped popcorn kernel or suffered a blow to the upper or lower jaw during an accident, you may have experienced part of a crown chipping off and falling out into your hand. In these kinds of cases, it is pretty obvious that a tooth is cracked. But many people do not realize that a tooth can be cracked without coming completely apart.
Orthodontics is not just for teens and young people anymore. Adult orthodontics is an area of increasing specialty, and many adults are deciding to have their teeth straightened, or to improve their bite and smile. The main challenge in adult cases is that the physiology of the tissues surrounding teeth is different than in growing patients. There is also the greater likelihood that adults have experienced more and more extensive dental restorations, which may limit the available orthodontic approaches. That’s why orthodontic goals in adults may be slightly different than in teens. An adult may decide to have braces as part of his or her treatment, but it doesn’t necessarily mean treatment will take two-and-a-half years, as is traditionally the case with teens.