What Does a Dental Prosthetist Do?

When most people think about dental care, they imagine a dentist in a white coat doing check-ups and performing other dental procedures. But another equally important profession related to dental care is the dental prosthetist – but exactly what does a dental prosthetist do? These are the specialists that handle the precise work of making and fitting dentures. There’s a lot to this kind of job, so join us as we to take a closer look at the various duties and tasks of dental prosthetists.

Pearl Denture Studio are a leading Northern Rivers denture clinic, and our dental prosthetists love improving lives and enhancing smiles. Contact us online today to learn more about our services. You can also reach us by calling 02 6684 3677, or you can book an appointment online.

 

Some Background on Prosthetics

Prosthetics

This is the branch of medicine that focuses on artificial devices that replace missing body parts. Individuals can be missing body parts for congenital reasons, due to disease or because of traumatic injury. This can be a missing arm or leg but can also be a missing breast due to cancer or even a missing nose. The purposes of a prosthetic device are to restore normal body function and for aesthetics. For a prosthetic device to perform optimally, it needs to be precisely made to exact measurements and professionally fitted.

Prosthetist

This is a medical professional who makes prosthetics based on the measurements taken from the patient. The requirements and usability of an artificial limb can be quite complicated to fully restore the use of a missing body part, requiring extensive planning and engineering. The prosthetist does the design, fabrication and fitting of the prosthetic device, and they provide adjustments as needed to ensure the device fits and functions optimally. They also educate the patient on how to use the prosthetic device.

 

Dental Prosthetist

Teeth are as much a part of the body as an arm or a leg. When teeth go missing, it is the dental prosthetist’s responsibility to provide full or partial dentures with the goal of restoring function and aesthetics while also improving any discomfort associated with missing teeth. This work is a blend of science and art to make dentures that are highly functional and allow the patient to look their best.

The Key Responsibilities of Dental Prosthetists

• Assessment – The prosthetist will perform a thorough examination to determine the needs and expectation of the patient.
• Measurement and Fabrication – Measurements are taken of the patient’s mouth. This is usually done by making an impression of the mouth which is used in the fabrication of the custom dentures.
• Fitting and Adjustments – The dentures are tried by the patient and any adjustments are made to ensure a perfect fit. This is an important step because the dentures need to fit in a way that is comfortable so the patient can wear them for extended periods.
• Education – The wearing of dentures is usually a new experience for most patients, and they need to be educated on the proper use and care of their new dentures.
• Repairs and Maintenance – Dentures receive heavy use and individuals’ mouths change over time, so the dental prosthetist will follow up with patients to perform any repairs or maintenance required for the dentures to continue to fit and function as intended.

 

What Does a Dental Prosthetist Do That a Dentist Doesn’t?

The roles of dentists and dental prosthetists are different but complementary. Dentists provide general dental care, and most dentists have some level of training in dental prosthetics, but dental prosthetists focus on prosthetics. It is common for dentists and dental prosthetists to work together to provide care for patients, and it is equally common for a patient to work directly with a dental prosthetist, as most will see patients without the need of a referral.

 

Improving Smiles and Improving Lives

When considering dental prosthetics, the expertise of a qualified dental prosthetist can make all the difference in the treatment experience. At Pearl Denture Studio, we offer a high level of skill and a gentle touch to ensure you receive well-fitting dentures that improve mouth function and enhance appearances. Contact us today to learn about the difference a quality set of dentures can make in your life. For appointments, call 02 6684 3677 or book an appointment online.