What is prosthodontics?

Prosthodontics, also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry, is one of the nine dental specialties. Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.

Prosthodontics involves a number of disciplines including:

• Contemporary fixed prostheses
• Full coverage crowns
• Partial coverage restorations
• Fixed partial dentures (bridges)
• Porcelain veneers
• Resin bonded bridges
• Removable prostheses
• Removable complete dentures
• Removable partial dentures
• Tooth-based over-dentures
• Implant-based prostheses
• Implant-supported, fixed prostheses
• Implant-retained over-dentures
• Management of temporo-mandibular disorders
• Maxillo-facial prosthetics
• Dental material science
• Dental laboratory technology