importance of prosthodontics, definition, goal, teeth loss consequences and causes

1. P R O S T H O D O N T I C S - B R A N C H
O F D E N TA L M E D I C I N E

2. DEFINITION
• Prosthodontics is a branch of dental medicine that focuses on
the use of dental prosthetics. It involves the diagnosis,
treatment and rehabilitation of dental problems, usually
involving tooth loss or severe tooth damage, and the
maintenance of prostheses that have been prescribed. As
defined by the CDA, Prosthodontists restore esthetics,
function and comfort with artificial substitutes. These artificial
materials constitute a wide variety of restorations including
fillings, dentures, veneers, crowns, bridges and oral implants.

3. OVERVIEW
• Prosthodontic treatments are often used for cosmetic purposes. Since cosmetic
dentistry is not officially recognised as a sub-specialty of dentistry, cosmetic treatments
fall under prosthodontics.
• Additionally, prosthodontics also has a super-specialty called maxillofacial
prosthodontics, which involves the treatment and management of problems that affect
the appearance of the head and neck area. Such cases, however, require a
multidisciplinary treatment approach, wherein prosthodontics is combined with
maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, head and neck surgery, occupational therapy,
speech therapy and physiotherapy.

4. GOAL
Prosthodontics has an emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment planning of patients
who have complex dental needs and on providing treatment services that primarily
involve the repair or replacement of natural teeth with a variety of fixed or removable
prosthetic options. Increased patient demand for esthetic services and for implant-
supported prostheses has caused an increased emphasis on these types of procedures in
prosthodontic training programs and practices. To successfully manage these patient
needs, prosthodontists collaborate with all members of the dental team, including other
specialty colleagues, general dentists, dental hygienists, and laboratory technicians.
Through consultation and collaboration with the dental team, prosthodontists provide
patients with a customized treatment plan and alternative options, with associated
advantages, disadvantages, prognosis, risks, and time involved.

5. IMPORTANCE OF PROSTHODONTICS
• Prosthodontics is an important aspect of dentistry.
This field of dentistry has been providing excellent
solutions to patients suffering from complicated
dental problems. There are lots of dental conditions
that cannot be effectively taken care of by ordinary
dentist. These dentists don't have the required skill
sets and expertise to handle such complex dental
conditions.

6. IMPORTANCE OF PROSTHODONTICS
• Dental problems like cleft lips and palates, loss of essential bones in the face, jaw pains,
difficulties in chewing, speech difficulties, and fixing of a functional artificial teeth are quite
complicated. They required special skills to effectively take care of them. These skills are
possessed by specialist in prosthodontics.
• Prosthodontics, as a specialized field of dentistry, offers advance training in the handling of
complicated dental procedures like dental implants, cosmetic restoration, and fixing of
complete and partial dentures. With his exquisite skills, the prosthodontics specialist has the
ability to effectively swap lost tooth, facial bones, facial tissues and oral tissues with
substitutes. These substitutes are designed to function close to the level of the natural tooth,
bones, and tissues lost. Obtaining such skills required about several years of tough training
after dental school in a dental school accredited for such program by the relevant
accreditation body. The prosthodontist will be certified by the relevant professional body
after sitting for and passing the required examinations.

7. PROSTHODONTISTS
• Dental professionals who specialize in prosthodontics are called prosthodontists. To practice,
they are required to complete a basic dental medicine degree followed by three to four years
of additional specialty training. Due to the highly dynamic nature of their role, they are
expected to be knowledgeable and trained in many medical aspects, such as: Head and neck
anatomy, Biomedical science, Biomaterial science
• Prosthodontists are responsible for: Restoring and replacing lost or severely damaged
teeth, Restoring the function and appearance of lost teeth, Enhancing the overall
appearance of teeth, Providing full mouth rehabilitation or full mouth reconstruction,
Fabricating dental prostheses, Providing maxillofacial reconstruction, Supervising the
treatment process
• Although there is some overlap in the roles and responsibilities of general dentists and
prosthodontists, there is a distinction, in that the latter can provide a more coordinated
approach, combining several different techniques to improve or treat the entire mouth or all
teeth as a whole, instead of correcting individual problems. In fact, in the course of
implementing a dynamic treatment plan designed to resolve all the problems a patient has
with his teeth and mouth, the prosthodontist will need to oversee a team consisting of other
dental and medical professionals, including general dentist.

8. TEETH LOSS- BACKGROUND
• Tooth loss is a process in which one or more teeth
come loose and fall out. Tooth loss is normal for
deciduous teeth, when they are replaced by a person's
adult teeth. Otherwise, losing teeth is undesirable and
is the result of injury or disease, such as dental
avulsion, tooth decay, and gum disease. The condition
of being toothless or missing one or more teeth is
called edentulism.

9. FOUR COMMON CAUSES OF TOOTH LOSS:
• Gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the number one
cause of tooth loss among adults—accounting for 70 percent of missing teeth. ...
• Cavities. Cavities are holes in teeth caused by a bacterial infection that turns into tooth
decay. ...
• Physical injury or trauma. ...
• Other diseases and risk factors.

10. FOUR COMMON CAUSES OF TOOTH LOSS:
• Gum disease- Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the number one cause of
tooth loss among adults—accounting for 70 percent of missing teeth. It begins with
and inflammation in the gums. As it progresses, it destroys the gum tissues and can destroy
the jawbone underneath the gums, resulting in no support for the teeth.
• Cavities- Cavities are holes in teeth caused by a bacterial infection that turns into tooth
decay. If untreated, a cavity can destroy the pulp in the center of the tooth, which will likely
result in a root canal or even removal of the tooth. Prevent cavities by practicing good oral
health habits, choosing healthy foods and drinks, and making regular trips to the dentist for
early detection. Early treatment can save your tooth.
• Physical injury or trauma- Accidents happen, especially during sports, which is why mouth
guards are important. Falls, car accidents and more can also cause tooth loss. However, you
can be vigilant to avoid some common causes of tooth loss or damage through accidents.
Don’t use your teeth to remove caps, tops or lids, to loosen knots, tear off tags or cut
Nor should you use your teeth to chew ice, open nut shells or chew on popcorn kernels if
you want to make sure your teeth stay intact.
• Other diseases and risk factors- In addition to periodontal disease, these diseases and risk
factors can lead to tooth loss: Diabetes, Hypertension, Arthritis, Smoking,Poor nutrition

11. TEETH LOSS- CONSEQUENCES
• Ugly smile
• Makes you look older than your age
• Loss of bone at the site
• Drifiting of the adjacent teeth
• Over eruption of the opposing tooth
• Decays
• Inefficiency in chewing food
• TM Joint problem

12. TEETH LOSS- CONSEQUENCES
• Missing teeth/tooth not only gives you an ugly smile and affects the aesthetics of your face by
creating lots of gaps between teeth hence the skin of the face becomes unsupported and sags making
you look older.
• Missing teeth can lead to the loss of bone at the site of the gap, the remaining adjacent and opposing
tooth gets drifted to the gap, loosing the alignment and making it more difficult to chew your food
properly affecting your general health and digestion, causing lot of diseases e.g. hyperacidity,
constipation and severe cases peptic ulcers.
• Sometimes this improper alignment of a tooth can lead to the stress in the jaw
joint(Temporomandibular Joint) which also lead to pain in front of ear every time you eat and
sometimes a chronic headache.
• Improper alignment of teeth makes unnatural gaps between them which causes the food
accumulation leading to the decay in the teeth. Replace your missing teeth with Dental Bridge or
Dental Implants.

13. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF
TOOTH LOSS
• The psychological effects of total tooth loss are complex and varied, and range from very
minimal to a state of anxiety. Although complete dentures are able to satisfy the appearance
needs of many patients, there are many who feel their social life is significantly affected. They
are concerned with kissing and romantic situations, especially if a new relationship is unaware
of their oral handicap.
• A past dental health survey indicates that only 80% of the population without teeth is able to
wear both upper and lower dentures all of the time. Some patients wear only one of the
dentures, usually the upper; others are able to wear their dentures only for short periods. In
addition, approximately 7% of denture wearers are not able to wear them at all, and become
dental cripples or oral invalids. They rarely leave their home environment, and when they feel
forced to venture out, the thought of meeting and talking to people while not wearing teeth
is unsettling.

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