When considering dental care, we often think about cleanings, fillings, or whitening. However, for many patients, especially those with missing, damaged, or worn teeth, a prosthodontist plays a vital role in restoring the smile as well as the function and health of the entire mouth. A prosthodontist is a dental professional extensively trained in designing and fitting dental prosthetics like crowns, bridges, dentures, and dental implants.
A prosthodontist’s importance extends beyond just appearance. While enhancing your smile’s look matters, a prosthodontist also makes sure your teeth work correctly, helping you chew, speak, and keep your jaw aligned. Teeth that don’t function well can cause digestion problems, strain your jaw joints, and even lower your confidence in social situations.
At ProHEALTH Dental, our prosthodontists blend restorative dentistry with a holistic approach to your health. Replacing and repairing teeth carefully supports overall well-being, helping you maintain function and comfort in everyday life. Our prosthodontists’ work directly links oral health to overall health, making prosthodontic care vital for a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Your overall well-being starts with a smile that works as well as it looks. Schedule an appointment with one of our locations that provides general prosthodontics: Lake Success, and Yonkers.
Solutions for Missing or Damaged Teeth
Prosthodontists are trained to handle complex dental problems beyond what general dentistry typically covers. They combine science, skill, and artistry to create customized solutions for patients with missing or damaged teeth. Working with other dental professionals, their treatments restore oral function, comfort, and confidence.
Dental Crowns: Protecting and Strengthening Your Natural Teeth
Dental crowns are custom-made caps placed over weakened or damaged teeth. They restore the tooth’s shape, strength, and appearance. Crowns are often used after root canals to repair cracked teeth or to cover large fillings.
Benefits include:
- Protecting teeth from further damage
- Restoring chewing and biting strength
- Enhancing the appearance of worn or discolored teeth
- Enhancing the appearance of worn or discolored teeth
Dental Bridges: Bridging the Gap for a Complete Smile
Bridges replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to neighboring natural teeth or implants. They help maintain proper alignment and prevent remaining teeth from shifting.
Benefits include:
- Restoring the ability to chew and speak effectively
- Maintaining facial structure and preventing bite problems
- Providing a natural-looking, seamless solution for missing teeth
Dentures: Custom-Fit Solutions for Extensive Tooth Loss
Dentures replace multiple missing teeth and can be either partial or full sets. Modern dentures are crafted for comfort and a natural look.
Advantages include:
- Improving the ability to eat and speak clearly
- Supporting facial muscles to prevent sagging
- Offering removable or implant-supported options for stability
Dental Implants: Permanent Restoration for Long-Term Function
Implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace tooth roots. Crowns or bridges are then attached to create a permanent, stable solution.
Benefits include:
- Preserving jawbone density and preventing bone loss
- Restoring full chewing function
- Offering long-term durability and natural appearance
Through these restorative solutions, prosthodontists tackle the functional and aesthetic issues caused by missing or damaged teeth. Each option is customized to match the patient’s needs, lifestyle, and overall health goals.
The Hidden Connection: Oral Health and Your Well-Being
Restoring your teeth can enhance your smile and positively affect your overall health and quality of life.
Improved Nutrition and Digestion
Missing or damaged teeth can limit a patient's ability to eat certain foods comfortably. Restoring proper chewing function enables patients to enjoy a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and proteins, essential for energy and overall health. Improved chewing efficiency supports better digestion and nutrient absorption, leading to more consistent energy levels and greater vitality.
Supporting Jaw Joint Health
Proper alignment of teeth and bite is crucial for jaw joint health. When teeth are missing or misaligned, uneven pressure can strain the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), potentially causing pain, headaches, or difficulty opening the mouth. Prosthodontic care helps create a balanced bite, reducing TMJ stress and preventing or alleviating discomfort related to joint disorders.
Boosting Psychological Well-Being and Confidence
The appearance and function of teeth greatly influence mental health. Restoring a smile can boost self-esteem, lessen social anxiety, and promote positive interactions. Research shows that facial feedback, including smiling, impacts emotional experiences, improving emotional well-being. For patients who have felt self-conscious because of missing or damaged teeth, prosthodontic options can change their social confidence and emotional perspective.
Our Unique Approach: Integrating Dental and Medical Care
Restorative care is part of a broader strategy to support whole-body health. Through clinical affiliations with medical groups, our prosthodontists coordinate dental and medical care to monitor and address conditions where oral health affects overall health, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This integrated approach means that restorative treatments enhance function and appearance, contributing to long-term well-being.
Reclaim Your Health and Smile
Prosthodontic care is about replacing teeth and restoring function, comfort, and confidence. Whether through crowns, bridges, dentures, or implants, patients regain the ability to eat, speak, and smile easily. This improved function, in turn, supports better nutrition, jaw health, and emotional well-being.
At ProHEALTH Dental, our prosthodontists bring advanced training, experience, and a patient-centered approach to every treatment plan. By coordinating care with medical partners, we focus on the holistic health benefits of oral restoration, helping patients achieve meaningful improvements in their quality of life.
If missing or damaged teeth are affecting your health, comfort, or confidence, scheduling a consultation with a prosthodontist is an essential first step. Reclaim your oral function, protect your jaw health, and enjoy the confidence of a restored smile.