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Did you know that losing one single tooth could lead to more? Over time, if you don’t replace the tooth, not only can your other teeth drift and shift out of place, causing a crooked or misaligned smile, but your jawbone can begin to deteriorate at the site of the missing tooth. Your roots signal minerals and vitamins to be sent to that area of jawbone so no tooth means diminished density. The specialty in dentistry that focuses on replacing missing teeth is prosthodontics. Your Temecula dentists will tell you more about how we can help our patients restore their smiles.

What is a Prosthodontist?

Prosthodontists focus on the diagnosis and treatment of missing or damaged teeth. Restoration and rehabilitation combine to provide options for natural looking and feeling teeth replacements or reparations. Prosthodontics is among nine total specialties which are recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).

To become a general dentist, seven years of college and dental school are required, and then a licensure exam in your state of practice has to be passed. Once that is achieved, an additional two or three years of education will be required years at a university or hospital in order to earn the title “prosthodontist.”

Should You See a Prosthodontist?

In general, dentists can do much of the same work that a prosthodontist can. Among the areas of overlap would be any restoration where a partial part of your natural tooth can be saved. Placement of a dental crown to provide aesthetics and strength, dental implants and dentures, and porcelain veneers may be done by a specialist or a regular dentist, as well. However, if your case is particularly complex, a prosthodontist is likely to have more experience that will potentially lead to the best possible results.

Visit Your Temecula Dentists

Your dentists in Temecula include several specialists to help meet all of the comprehensive dental needs of our patients. If you are in need of a checkup, cleaning, restorative procedures (such as fillings or crowns) or any one of the above-mentioned procedures, contact our 92591 dental office by calling (951) 695-2290 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Temecula and all surrounding communities.