Just like doctors can focus their training and education in order to become experts in areas like cardiovascular, pediatric, or geriatric health, dentists can also opt to specialize in one of the nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). Of these nine, the field of prosthodontics is the most advanced.
What Sets Prosthodontics Apart From Other Dental Specialties?
Overall, a prosthodontist is able to offer patients the most advanced forms of oral treatment. This includes the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and maintenance needed to optimize oral function, comfort, appearance, and health. Prosthodontics is especially valuable for patients with chronic and serious conditions associated with missing teeth and deficient oral tissue. Prosthodontists can be viewed as the “architects” of the mouth.
What Does It Take to Become a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist must complete dental school and three additional years of advanced training and education through an ADA-accredited prosthodontic graduate program. This extensive education allows a prosthodontist to provide multi-disciplinary levels of care that other dentists cannot. Dr. Susana Kulangara at Advanced Dental Arts in Wesley Chapel, Florida, for example, attended Boston University School of Dental Medicine and then completed a rigorous three-year residency program in Prosthodontics at the Washington, D.C. VA hospital.
What Services Does a Prosthodontist Offer?
A prosthodontist is capable of completing any treatment, procedure, or surgery that helps to improve the function, appearance, comfort, and health of the teeth. Even the most complex and challenging cases can be tackled using crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, and dentures. Prosthodontists are also unique because they can achieve full mouth rehabilitation that includes bone grafting, periodontal treatments, cosmetic dentistry, and other components that can achieve and preserve a full, healthy smile.
Whether you want to improve the appearance of your existing teeth or need to replace multiple missing teeth, Dr. Kulangara at Advanced Dental Arts in Wesley Chapel can use her experience and expertise help restore your gums and teeth. Call (813) 534-4425 today to learn more and schedule your first appointment.