Specialist Dental Services

Prosthodontist Services

Prosthodontics is highly-specialised dentistry that focuses on restoring and replacing teeth. 

With their advanced training and skills, you will be well looked after during any treatment by a prosthodontist. If you’re worried about damaged or missing teeth, prosthodontists can bring your smile back, using a range of advanced dental treatments.

Overview

Prosthodontics is the area of dentistry that focuses on dental prosthetics including the replacement of missing teeth and the associated soft and hard tissues by prostheses. Common treatments include crowns, bridges and dentures. These may be fixed or removable, or may be supported by dental implants.

Prosthodontists also restore damaged teeth using veneers, re-shape irregular teeth and provide a whole smile makeover using a combination of techniques. Many of the treatments performed by prosthodontics are necessary for oral health and functionality. Missing teeth and oral trauma can affect the way the mouth works for eating, speaking and structure.

Education

Prosthodontists receive three years of additional specialist training. Extensive training and experience provide prosthodontists with a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth and the creation of tooth replacements.

Prosthodontists are highly trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating diverse and complex dental conditions and restoring optimum function and aesthetics. These include crowns, bridges, complete and removable partial dentures, dental implants, TMJ, traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structure or teeth, snoring or sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care.

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Need to know

Appointments

  • Usually 2 to 3 appointments
  • At the first consultation visit your dentist will examine your teeth
  • The next visit will be for the treatment
  • Further appointments may be needed for more complex treatments, like dentures.

How long it takes

  • The first consultation visit will usually take around 30 minutes
  • Treatment visits will usually take around 60 to 90 minutes

You may be asked about

  • Your dental history and medical history
  • Your oral health care routine at home

Before your appointment

  • No special preparation needed

After your appointment

  • Follow your post-treatment recommendations from the prosthodontist
  • Avoid overly hard or chewy foods for a few days
  • Eat soft and easy-to-chew foods after treatment
  • Warm salt water rinse to help with healing if needed
  • Use pain relief medication if you're experiencing pain

Quick tip

Good oral hygiene will extend the life of your prosthodontic treatment. Take good care of your oral health by flossing daily, brushing twice daily and regularly visiting the dentist and hygienist.

Enquire now

Have questions?

The price of visiting a prosthodontist will depend on the type of the treatment. When you see a dentist or prosthodontist for a consultation ahead of treatment, they will be able to give you an estimate of the cost of your treatment.

Making sure you feel comfortable during any treatment is a high priority for our prosthodontists. You shouldn’t feel any pain during prosthodontic treatment but it's normal to feel some discomfort. If you’ve had an extraction as part of your treatment you may experience some pain and swelling, which is completely normal. If you have any concerns about pain during and after treatment we suggest talking to your prosthodontist about these concerns at your consultation.

You may want to visit a prosthodontist if you're missing one or more teeth. You may also visit a prosthodontist if you are interested in dental implants, you wear dentures or removable partial dentures or you want to improve the aesthetics of your smile.

Prosthodontists are dental specialists in the restoration and replacement of teeth. They have completed dental school plus three additional years of advanced training and education. Additional training for prosthodontists is earned through a university-based program accredited by the New Zealand Dental Council. Prosthodontists have extensive training and experience to provide a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth and the creation of tooth replacements.