FAQ

A prosthodontist is a dental specialist focused on the restoration and replacement of teeth to improve function, comfort and appearance. They have additional training beyond dental school in the design, manufacture and fitting of dental prosthetics, including dentures, bridges, crowns and dental implants.

Restorative dentistry encompasses various dental procedures aimed at repairing or replacing damaged or lost teeth. It focuses on restoring the health, function and appearance of the teeth and mouth. Common procedures include fillings, crowns, bridges, implants and dentures.

Opting for restorative work over extractions can help preserve your natural tooth structure, maintain alignment and prevent other teeth from shifting. It can also provide a more functional and aesthetically pleasing outcome, improving your oral health and overall quality of life.

Tooth replacement options include dental implants, bridges and dentures. The best option for you will depend on the number of missing teeth, their location and your overall oral health. Our prosthodontists can help determine the most suitable solution for your needs.

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength and appearance. Crowns are used to protect damaged teeth, cover implants, attach bridges or for cosmetic reasons.

A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent teeth or dental implants. It literally bridges the gap where teeth are absent, helping to restore function and aesthetics.

A denture is a removable dental appliance replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures – complete and partial. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

A dental implant is a dental prosthetic used to replace missing teeth. It consists of a post that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over a few months. This post acts as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth. This “artificial tooth root” then holds a restoration which replaces the crowns of the missing teeth. This implant restoration may be a single crown, a bridge or a complete or partial denture.

All-on-X implants refer to a procedure that uses four or more implants to support a full arch of replacement teeth. This solution is often used for patients with significant tooth loss or deterioration and provides a stable, long-lasting alternative to traditional dentures.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializes in treating diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. They perform a wide range of surgeries, including dental implant placement, wisdom tooth removal and corrective jaw surgery.

Common oral surgery procedures include tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery), bone grafting and treatment of facial injuries.

Wisdom teeth removal is usually recommended due to the lack of space in the mouth to accommodate these teeth. Wisdom teeth which are not removed may become impacted, cause pain, lead to the development of cysts, cause tooth damage or cause infection. Our oral surgeons can evaluate your specific situation to decide if removal is necessary.

Jaw reconstruction, or orthognathic surgery, is a procedure to correct irregularities of the jaw bones, improve chewing, speaking and breathing. It is often performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in coordination with an orthodontist.

Before receiving a dental implant, a comprehensive evaluation including dental exams, X-rays and 3D imaging will be conducted to assess your oral health and bone density. You may need pre-treatment procedures, such as bone grafting, if bone density is insufficient.

Impacted teeth are teeth that fail to emerge fully into their expected positions. This is most common with wisdom teeth, but it can affect other teeth as well. Impaction can lead to pain, infection and other dental problems.

Modern oral surgery techniques and anesthesia make these procedures much less painful than in the past. Post-surgical discomfort varies but can typically be managed with prescribed pain medication and by following post-operative care instructions.

In most cases, your general dentist or our prosthodontists will recommend oral surgery. You can also contact our office and make an appointment with our oral surgeons for an evaluation or a second opinion about whether or not you need a surgical procedure.