Tooth replacement, oral surgery, and other dental procedures are serious business. So, it’s natural to shop around and research dentists in your area to find out who is qualified to handle your oral health needs.
If you need restorative dental services, should you visit a general dentist or a maxillofacial prosthodontist? Continue reading or call our Fairfield office to discover the answer to this question.
Practice Focus
The most noticeable difference between a prosthodontist and a general dentist is practice focus:
- General dentists center their practice on keeping the mouth healthy.
- Prosthodontists specialize in replacing and restoring your teeth to maximize oral health.
Education and Training
Generally, it takes eight years of schooling to become a general dentist:
- Four years of undergrad
- Four years to earn a DMD or DDS in dental school.
During eight years of school, general dentists learn how to manage minor dental procedures and perform routine dental care (such as checkups and cleanings.)
Although some general dentists seek extra training to enable them to perform particular procedures, a prosthodontist must acquire further extensive, highly-concentrated training in tooth replacement and restoration through an ADA-accredited program.
Partnership with Other Medical Professionals
Written in the 5th century B.C. by Hippocrates, the Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest documents in history. This oath binds medical professionals and the first line states, “To treat the ill to the best of one’s ability…” Most physicians hold this oath sacred, which is why doctors must collaborate at times.
Prosthodontists are experts in their line of work. So, they join forces with various medical personnel, including (but not limited to):
- Other dentists and specialists
- Plastic surgeons
- Neurologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Speech pathologists
It’s not fair to say a prosthodontist is better than a general dentist. But it is valid to say that prosthodontists are experts in restorative dentistry. So, other medical professionals (including general dentists) can rely on prosthodontists to provide superior restorative care.
Dental Case Complexity
Yes, it’s true. Some general dentists offer similar dental services as our practice. Yet, general dentists cannot tackle the same span of complicated cases.
Prosthodontists are specialists that can address complex cases, including patients:
- Patients who can not wear dentures
- Patients who need to lose all their teeth
- Patients who have had many failed dental treatments
- Complex dental cases
- Patients missing one or more teeth
- Patients who have bite problems
- Who are suffering from the side effects of radiation therapy or experiencing oral cancer
- That are missing portions of their faces, tongues, and jaws
- Who have difficulty speaking, eating, or swallowing
- Who are losing fluid through their nose due to a gap in their palates
So, receiving advice and treatment from a prosthodontist assures quality, even for the most intricate cases. Dr. Horblitt designs treatment plans for your needs. He focuses on long-term solutions that do not sacrifice aesthetics.
On-Site Care
If you need any type of dental prosthesis, it’s common practice for dentists to send your impressions to a lab. Here, lab technicians fabricate dentures, crowns, and more. Unfortunately, this process can take weeks.
Conveniently, Dr. Horblitt’s clinic has an equipped, on-site laboratory, which can:
- Yield a quicker turnaround
- Enhance practice efficiency with the ability to troubleshoot on-site
- Potentially increase savings without remote lab fees
Are you looking for a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist in Fairfield, CT?
If the answer to this question is “yes,” then look no further. Learn more about our lead maxillofacial prosthodontist better and prosthodontic services in Fairfield. Call (203) 335-1011 or message us online. Our caring team is eager to provide you with further information and help you schedule your next appointment.
