In the United States, an estimated 120 million people are missing at least one tooth, and 36 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one or both jaws. Missing even one tooth can affect a person’s confidence, job prospects and overall health.

Prosthodontists are licensed dentists who specialize in the restoration and replacement of damaged or missing teeth, and can help you consider a number of options for restoring your smile and function.

There are several choices:

• Fixed prosthesis: crown, bridges over natural teeth
• Removable prosthesis: partial or complete dentures
• Implant supported prosthesis: implant assisted complete and partial dentures, and implant supported crown and bridges

The type of restoration depends on the number of missing teeth, location in the mouth and medical condition of the patient. Fixed prostheses are ideal and behave as natural teeth, they are fixated to the jaw and don’t have to be removed for cleaning purposes. Removable prostheses are more affordable, but often are not the top choice of many patients because of the need to be removed for cleaning, compromise of esthetics, deterioration of fitting over time and diminished chewing ability. Implant supported removable prostheses, on the other hand, provide good chewing capacity, adequate fitting, improved esthetics and provide a middle ground in terms of cost.

“Usually, patients missing only one or two teeth prefer a fixed implant supported prosthesis since they don’t require prepping healthy teeth surrounding the affected area,” said Loana Tovar Suinaga, DDS, MS, assistant professor, Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry. “Patients with multiple missing teeth may opt for a removable prosthesis assisted by implants, since they provide some of the benefits of the fixed prosthesis in a more affordable way.”

Patients who’ve been wearing complete dentures for some time but have never gotten used to them often experience increased satisfaction and quality of life when adding implants to the prosthesis, Tovar Suinaga said. Individuals with a partial removable denture also experience an improvement in the function and esthetics when implants are added to the prosthesis, since implants eliminate the need for a clasp to be placed over the teeth.

More information is available online.��

During National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, April 2-8, the is educating the public about tooth replacement options and oral health issues.

“Until recently, false teeth looked and felt false. Prosthodontists are using digital technology to change the way dentistry is practiced and producing results not possible until now. We are using new techniques to replace and restore teeth to a higher level of precision and beauty than ever before,” said , professor and interim chair of the Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry.

How digital dentistry is changing practice��

There are a number of ways digital dentistry is changing the entire practice, including:

• Computers and scanning technology take tooth restoration to a new level. Teeth can be viewed in 3-D and restorations can be customized for each patient. This allows more control by the prosthodontist and better outcomes.

• Prosthodontists digitally capture information from the patient’s mouth, minimizing patient discomfort and reducing the number of appointments. Specialized training equips prosthodontists to translate the information into a patient-specific crown design, implant or other solution for improved esthetics and comfort.

• Prosthodontists using digital techniques and ceramic material can custom-design, fabricate and place a crown in a much shorter amount of time than in previous decades, in many cases the same day.

• Traditionally, removable dentures and conventional bridges were the sole means to replace missing teeth. Now dental implants, which are virtually permanent, offer improved function and comfort. Dental implants are mechanically and biologically superior to previous restorative options and do not overload or damage surrounding teeth.

“When you lose even a single tooth, it will result in bone loss, change the bite and result in adjacent teeth moving toward the missing space. The longer a person waits to get it replaced, the more challenging the clinical situation,” Grant said.

The UofL School of Dentistry covers the full scope of prosthodontic and restorative dental care, utilizing the latest technologies in radiographic imaging, diagnostic methods, advanced surgical and restorative techniques, and dental laboratory support.

Working closely with colleagues from various dental disciplines at UofL, comprehensive treatment is available for patients with challenging dental conditions and problems. Treatment is performed by licensed dentists in UofL’s highly-competitive prosthodontic residency program. For an appointment or more information, call 502-852-3482.