Understanding New Terms Related to Your Treatment

Just like any other medical field, dentistry has a range of specialties that are each designed to give you the highest quality care in a particular area. If you’re getting a treatment like a dental implant, you might have recently heard about one of these specialties for the first time—a prosthodontist.

New terms can be intimidating, especially when there’s already so much new information for you to learn and process relating to your treatment. It can leave you with a lot of questions.

Thankfully, though, you don’t have to seek answers to these questions alone! We’re here to help you through every step of your treatment process, including helping you understand the meaning of new terms like prosthodontist or prosthodontics and how your dentist in Boise can help you.

What is the meaning of “prosthodontist”?

The word prosthodontist comes from two root words: “prostho,” which means “replacement” and “dontist,” which means “dealing with teeth.” As a result, “prosthodontist” simply means someone who replaces teeth. Everything involved in this field of dentistry is called “prosthodontics.”

What is a prosthodontist?

A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed additional education and certifications to specialize specifically in prosthodontics, or the replacement of teeth. They first receive all the training and certifications of a general dentist, including getting a bachelor’s degree, going to dental school for three or four years, and passing a set of written and clinical examinations to become a board-certified dentist. At this point, they can begin practicing as a certified general dentist, but dentists who want to become prosthodontists must then go through and complete an ADA-accredited graduate program and an additional certification process.

This program involves three extra years of education and residency experience aimed at giving them plenty of hands-on experience treating patients. It also gives them specialized knowledge that they’ll need to treat these patients, such as detailed information on surgical procedures, dental laboratory techniques, medical and radiation oncology, and more.

Once they graduate, prosthodontists need to pass a grueling series of written, oral, and clinical exams to become certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics. It is only after they’ve passed this certification process that they can begin practicing as a certified prosthodontist.

What services do prosthodontists offer?

Prosthodontists offer a range of services designed to restore damaged teeth, replace missing teeth, and optimize the function of your teeth and jaws. Whether the issues you’re facing are a result of injury, decay, a congenital problem, or the result of health issues like cancer, prosthodontists can help using a range of specialized treatments and cutting-edge technology.

This includes placing dental implants, bridges, and partial or full dentures as well as other common tooth restorations like dental crowns or veneers. Prosthodontists can also help fix issues with your jaw that are resulting in TMJ disorder or TMJ pain and provide treatments that could help relieve snoring or sleep apnea symptoms.

Additionally, many prosthodontists provide specialized care for oral cancer patients that’s aimed at reconstructing damage done by cancer treatments. As a result, they also have a lot of knowledge about oral cancer and how to properly care for patients during and after treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Is my dentist a prosthodontist?

If you’re looking for a prosthodontist in or near Boise, ID, you might be wondering, “Is my dentist a prosthodontist?” Dr. Staley is not a prosthodontist, but like many general dentists, he does prosthodontic restorations frequently, including crowns, dentures, and dental implants. As a result, he has extensive experience carrying out these treatments. Dr. Staley has the most modern technology like CEREC dental crowns to make your restoration as quick and easy as possible. This blend of experience and advanced technology helps him give you the best possible results.

If you’re trying to decide if you’d like Dr. Staley to perform your treatment, don’t be afraid to ask to see before and after pictures of other patients who received the same type of treatment that you need. Dr. Staley would be happy to show you! Plus, looking at before and after photos can help you feel more confident in your treatment. While Dr. Staley often performs standard cases of these types of treatments, he will still refer you to a prosthodontist in or near Boise, ID if your case calls for specialized care. After all, he wants you to receive the best care possible, from the function of your restoration to the stunning appearance of your new smile. He won’t hesitate to recommend you to a prosthodontist if you have a complex case that requires additional expertise.

While “prosthodontist” might sound like a complex word at first, it’s pretty easy to understand this dental specialty and what it involves. If you’re ever unsure whether you need a prosthodontist in or near Boise, ID, don’t be afraid to ask Dr. Staley. He’ll perform a thorough evaluation and let you know if he can treat you or if your case requires the more specialized care of a dedicated prosthodontist. If you’d like to learn more about prosthodontics, the prosthodontic treatments Dr. Staley performs, or the advanced technology he uses to do so, feel free to schedule a consultation with him at any time.