Prosthodontics – The Art and Science of Designing Smiles

The ADA defines it as “ the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes”.

As a rapidly expanding science and art, prosthodontics serves to bring back the smiles and functional efficiency of teeth, and is still evolving.

As a mark of honour to all the industrious prosthodontists of the world, January 22^nd is celebrated as “Prosthodontists’ Day” every year across the world.

Pierre Fauchard, an 18^th century French surgeon has been considered the “Father of Prosthodontics” for his pioneering work.

There are four branches in Prosthodontics.

Fixed Prosthodontics

Removable Prosthodontics

Implant Prosthodontics

Implant Prosthodontics is the most advanced technology in dentistry and is serving millions of patients with edentulousness, and this is the best form of treatment for missing teeth, much better than the conventional removable and fixed partial dentures.  There has been extensive research in this field and implants and crowns can be placed in just two working days,  provided conditions are favorable. The latest TTPHIL technique involves no bleeding, no sinus lifts, no grafting, and a very fast healing time. This is indeed a boon to those waiting to have lengthy painful procedures. Even cardiac patients, diabetics, and other medical conditions found implants to be as successful as 98%.

Gone are the days when conventional implant placement was done and patients had to wait for even an year for teeth. It’s speed, accuracy and digitalization now. Techniques such as digital impressions, stereolithographic models and prints, surgical guides for precision placement of implants, complete modernization of laboratories with international standards help prosthodontists and implantologists to deliver implants in just 2 working days! However, certain limiting factors like infections, bone density might delay the permanent crowns a little, but the screw-retained two-piece systems are being considered the best in Implantology.

Maxillofacial prosthodontics

Maxillofacial prosthodontics involves the replacement of anatomical structures of the face like eyes, ears nose etc.

Implant and maxillofacial Prosthodontics is a superspecialization in dentistry that can be performed only by a skilled, trained, experienced prosthodontist.

This article is dedicated to all prosthodontists and implantologists, working relentlessly to bring smiles to edentulous patients!

Why choose a Prosthodontist?

If you need artificial teeth, choose a prosthodontist because of their advanced education and training, efficiency,  and expertise with advanced technology. Prosthodontists are extensively trained in state of the art techniques and procedures for treating complex DENTAL conditions and restoring optimum function and aesthetics.

For centuries, there has been substantial research for selecting the ideal restorative material for missing teeth,  and ivory was one of them.

DR Rafiuddin Ahmed is considered the Father of Indian dentistry.

From the simplest of tools to the latest digital technology,  prosthodontics traveled ages in history to become one of the most important and respected specialties in dentistry.

Treatments include

1. Crown
2. Centric relation
3. Bridge
4. Veneers
5. Surgery (pre-prosthetic)
6. Complete and partial removable dentures
7. Inlays and onlays
8. Maxillofacial prosthetics
9. Implants
10. Full mouth rehabilitation
11. Most recently, lumineers, emax crowns etc

This article is supposed to bring to light how prosthodontics improved over the decades and how patients are getting more and more conscious of their DENTAL health and most importantly we need to address the issues according to the problem, further necessitating the services of prosthodontists in rehabilitating the oral health.

Prosthodontists and implantologists from a very important team in considering treatments for edentulousness, or protecting root canal treated teeth, or treating conditions affecting bite and also help us in rehabilitating missing facial structures.

We always need to remember that when we need to “replace”, it’s always the prosthodontists and implantologists who we need to approach, though there are nine specialties and not all SPECIALISTS are well equipped with prosthetics and implants.