Everyone wants a beautiful smile. Unfortunately, a beautiful smile is not always a healthy smile. Regardless of how great your smile looks, only a healthy foundation will produce a long-lasting beautiful result.
This is precisely what motivates a prosthodontist – the foundation of a smile. A prosthodontist can create a smile that is structurally sound and healthy at the foundation, while also being aesthetically flawless on the surface.
What is a prosthodontist and how do you become one?
To become a prosthodontist in Australia a dentist must undergo an extra three years of study in an Australian dental council approved university postgraduate program. It is during this time that a dentist will study and practice a range of advanced dental procedures in a peer-reviewed environment.
This further study in advanced dental procedures provides a prosthodontist with the unique ability to expertly diagnose, restore and maintain the oral function and appearance of any smile.
A prosthodontist has specific expertise in all areas of:
- Generally fixed prosthodontics (booth tooth and implant supported restorations)
- Implant dentistry and overdentures
- Aesthetic/cosmetic procedures
- Whole and partial, or removable prosthodontics
- Temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscle disorders
- Dento-facial trauma and rehabilitation following corrective jaw surgery
- Congenital and developmental defects of the teeth and jaws
- Maxillofacial prosthodontics
In layman’s terms – a prosthodontist can help to correct and restore a completely or partially damaged smile to a healthy state.
The difference between a ‘prosthodontist’ and a ‘cosmetic dentist’
Cosmetic dentistry has grown dramatically in popularity over the past decade. Because of this, most dental practices now offer a range of cosmetic dental treatments.
While a dentist can have an ‘interest’ in cosmetic dental treatments this does not necessarily mean they have any formal qualifications in the area.
A prosthodontist does have formal extra training in the application of cosmetic dental treatments.
Most prosthodontists will apply cosmetic dental treatments as part of a larger restorative plan. This ensures that a smile has a beautiful aesthetic appearance to front a healthy restoration.
Why would I visit a prosthodontist?
Average life expectancy is well on the rise. Unfortunately, oral deterioration and tooth-loss come at the expense of living longer lives with greater exposure to dental risk factors.
Impaired aesthetics, compromised chewing function and psychological discomforts are all issues that many people just accept as part of an ageing smile.
A prosthodontist will provide insight, diagnosis and can solve these oral health problems. They can develop an overall plan and synchronise procedures with other general dentists and specialists ensuring a healthy and beautiful result that is long-lasting.
Dr Jim Ironside – Ironside Advanced Dental Sydney
Dr Jim Ironside is a board registered Specialist in Prosthodontics. He is passionate about the education and continuous improvement of the prosthodontic community in Australia, with particular interests in fixed prosthodontics, implants and TMJ dysfunction.
Dr Ironside owns and directs his own practice (Ironside Advanced Dental) which is located in the Sydney CBD.
If you’d like to make an appointment with Dr Ironside, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.
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