Prosthodontists are dental specialists in the restoration and replacement of teeth.
After completing four years of dental school, prosthodontists receive three years of specialized training in an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited graduate exucation program. Prosthodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA.

Rigorous training and experience provide prosthodontists with the special understanding of the dynamics of the smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth, and the creation of tooth replacements.

Serving as the "architect" of a dental treatment plan, prosthodontists collaborate with general dentists, specialists and other health professionals to develope solutions to your dental concerns.

WHAT AMERICAN'S SAY ABOUT THEIR SMILE...

• Seventy-three percent of Americans say they would feel self-conscious if they lost a tooth or teeth.
  
  
• A healthy-looking smile ranks among the top three aspects of a person's appearance that affect self-esteem.
  
  
• Twenty five percent of Americans say their smile or teeth is the one facial feature they would change to boost their self-esteem.

PROTECTING YOUR TEETH

Years of eating, chewing, and for many nightly "grinding" can affect your teeth in many ways. For example, excessive wear on teeth with large fillings or root canals can lead to portions of teeth breaking off. To preserve the remaining tooth and prevent breakage, a prosthodontist may recomment various types of crowns or "caps" to restore the tooth. Prosthodontists are experts in managing the increased complexity of multiple tooth treatments, as well as providing "state of the
art" solutions to protect and restore natural-looking smiles.

REPLACING LOST TEETH

Teeth can be lost for a variety of reasons including decay, gum disease, injury, medical and congenital problems, and even wear. The inabliily to enjoy certain foods and feeling self-conscious when you smile may cause a loss of self-esteem. Prosthodontists, experts in recreating nature's balance, understand that missing teeth have an immediate impact on a person's quality of life.

As the American Dental Association recognized specialist in tooth restoration and replacement, your prosthodontist can recommend and provide several treatment options including:

• single or multiple tooth replacements supported by dental implants
  
• crowns and bridges
  
• partial dentures and complete dentures
  

*Prosthodontists take great care and pride in providing their patients with esthetically attractive and natural-looking cosmetic restorations.

IMPROVING YOUR SMILE

If you have ever been unhappy about the "look" of your smile, you may want to consult a prosthodontist. With their advanced specialty training, prostodontists can improve your appearance by restoring broken, discolored, or misshapen teeth. The psychological importance of cosmetic dentistry should not be underestimated, as it can greatly improve a person's self-image and quality of life. Some of the procedures which can improve your smile are:

• placing complete ceramic esthetic crowns "caps" onto teeth
• placing veneers (a very thin porcelain "shell") onto teeth to conceal defects
• using bonding technology on a tooth's surface to change its shape or to close gaps
• bleaching discolored teeth to brighten and whiten a smile
  

Prosthodontists take great care and pride in providing their patients with esthetically attractive and natural-looking cosmetic restorations. All prosthodontists have extensive laboratory skills and knowledge of the materials used to restore and replace teeth.

CREATING YOUR PERFECT SMILE

REPLACE DEFECTIVE FILLINGS WITH INLAYS

Defective or unsighley "fillings" can be replaced by all-ceramic inlays...an exciting
tooth colored material that is bonded to the tooth for added support. Instead of simply being held in by cement, this bonding process may actually improve the strength and beauty of the tooth.

RESTORE TEETH WITH NARURAL LOOKING CROWNS

When decay is more extensive a crown (cap) is recommended. The exciting news is that now you can have a crown that gives you the strength, beauty, translucency and feel of a natural tooth.

REPLACE MISSING TEETH WITH BRIDGES AND IMPLANTS

Today, there are several exciting options available for replacing missing teeth from
implants to ceramic bridges. With today's materials and tooth color matching techniques, your new restoration will blend in beautifully and naturally.

CREATE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE WITH VENEERS

If you are not happy with the alignment, color or form of your teeth, now you can greatly improve your smile with ceramic veneers, a thin layer of porcelain that is bonded to the front of your teeth and becomes part of the tooth. Typically, for optimal esthetics, multiple teeth may need to be veneered.

BRIGHTEN YOUR SMILE WITH TOOTH WHITENING

Tooth whitening is a process that lightens discolored enamel and dentin. Studies have shown that proper use of dentist-monitored, whitening systems are an effective way of enhancing your smile. Almost anyone can benefit from tooth whitening. Your prosthodontist can determine if you are a good candidate for home whitening through a thorough oral examination and diagnosis.

PROSTHODONTISTS CAN HELP IN MANY WAYS

Your prosthodontist will explain the sadvantages and disadvantages of each type of treatment. Additional recommendations regarding continuing care will be coordinated with your general or family practitioner or other dental specialists.

As ADA recognized specialists, prosthodontists offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques in addition to cosmetics, such as:

• Dental Implants
• Complete and removable partial dentures
• Complex care management involving multiple specialists
• Special needs of geriatric patients
• Children born with cleft palate or missing teeth TMD (TMJ)
• Jaw Joint problems
• Traumatic injuries
• Snoring and sleep disorders
• Oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care