Transforming Your Dental Health and Aesthetics
A radiant smile is essential to your health, hygiene, and confidence. At Petrie Advanced Dental, under the care of Dr. Arvind Petrie in Tacoma, WA, we specialize in advanced prosthodontic care to make sure you have the most attractive and natural-looking smile possible.
Prosthodontics, also known as prosthetic dentistry, focuses on the aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth to restore their proper form and function. If you’re seeking comprehensive prosthodontic treatments, call us at (253) 761-5422 to schedule your appointment today.
What Is Prosthodontics?
Prosthodontics is a dental specialty dedicated to restoring and replacing missing or deficient teeth and oral structures to improve function, comfort, and appearance. Prosthodontists, highly trained dental professionals, specialize in diagnosing, planning, and executing complex treatment procedures aimed at enhancing patients’ oral health and well-being.
Using advanced techniques and materials, prosthodontists develop personalized treatment plans to address each patient’s needs and goals. From dental implants and bridges to dentures and veneers, prosthodontic treatments focus on restoring oral function, enhancing facial aesthetics, and improving patients’ quality of life by providing durable, natural-looking restorations that seamlessly integrate with their natural teeth and features.
What Prosthodontics Can Treat
As a comprehensive dental practice, we offer our patients a wide range of prosthodontic treatments. Prosthodontic care focuses on the complete oral rehabilitation and treatment of numerous dental conditions, such as:
- TMJ/TMD
- Traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structures
- Congenital or birth anomalies in teeth
- Snoring and sleep disorders
- Oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care
Prosthodontic Treatment Options
To restore your smile, we may recommend the following prosthodontic treatments:
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials and is bonded to the surrounding teeth for support.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a restoration used to improve your tooth’s shape or to strengthen a tooth. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or have portions destroyed by tooth decay. Think of a crown as a “cap” cemented onto an existing tooth that fully covers the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth made of metal and porcelain that looks just like your natural tooth. It’s composed of two main parts: one is the titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing root, and the second part is the tooth-colored crown cemented on top of the implant. With dental implants, you can smile confidently, knowing no one will ever suspect you have a replacement tooth.
Dentures
Dentures are a solution for severely worn or damaged teeth and their supporting structures, with full dentures replacing all missing teeth from an entire arch and partial dentures addressing select teeth. Full dentures rely on gum or implant retention, while partial dentures hook or clasp onto the remaining teeth. Modern dentures have advanced significantly and are now able to attach to implants for almost full restoration of original tooth function and form.
At Petrie Advanced Dental, new dentures can typically be fabricated within a few weeks for those already using dentures. If additional procedures or surgery are required, the timeframe extends from a couple of months to a year, particularly if teeth and bones need removal or implant placement. As an advanced dental care office in Tacoma, WA, we often perform in-house implant placements and fabricate the entire prosthetic without needing to refer to a specialist. Our highly trained denturist collaborates directly with our patients and Dr. Petrie to create dentures that look and function naturally.
Denture Care
We recommend you clean your denture with soap and water or other store-brand cleaning agents every day. You will also need to clean the gums and remaining teeth (in the case of a partial) as normal so as not to risk damage to the remaining support teeth.
After you receive your dentures, we suggest you visit our Tacoma dental office for a once-a-year screening to evaluate the denture, clean it, and do a head and neck cancer screening.
Dental Fillings
A dental filling is often used to repair a tooth affected by wear, decay, cracks, or fractures. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth is removed and replaced with a filling, which can be made up of many different materials, such as gold, porcelain, composite, ceramic, and plastic compounds.
Occlusal Disease Treatment
Occlusal disease is caused by a misalignment between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches, also called malocclusion. If left untreated, occlusal disease can damage your teeth, the supporting bones and gums around your teeth, temporomandibular joints, and the jaw muscles you use for chewing. Many people dismiss excessive or abnormally accelerated tooth wear as natural aging or wearing of teeth; however, prosthodontic treatment can alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by occlusal disease.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a wonderful, minimally invasive treatment tool we can use to preserve natural tooth structure, but they also greatly change the look and aesthetics of a tooth. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain) designed to cover the front side of your teeth. They’re effective at correcting gaps, chips, stains, and misshapen teeth. Veneers generally last many years and have a great long-term outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any age restrictions for prosthodontic treatments?
Prosthodontic treatments are suitable for individuals of all ages, from adolescents to seniors. The treatment approach may vary based on the patient’s age, health, and specific dental needs.
How do I know which prosthodontic treatment is right for me?
Choosing the appropriate prosthodontic treatment depends on factors such as the extent of tooth loss, oral health, aesthetic preferences, and budget. Your dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation and recommend the most suitable option for your specific needs.
Are prosthodontic treatments permanent?
While dental implants are considered a permanent solution for tooth replacement, other prosthetic options, such as dentures and dental bridges, may require periodic adjustments or replacements over time. Regular dental visits help monitor the condition of prosthetics and ensure optimal function.
Can I finance prosthodontic treatments?
Many dental practices offer financing options or payment plans to help patients afford prosthodontic treatments. Discussing financial arrangements with your dentist or dental office staff can help alleviate concerns about the cost of treatment.
Don’t Wait for Your Dream Smile: Reserve Your Appointment!
Are you ready to transform your smile and restore your confidence? Schedule your appointment with Petrie Advanced Dental today by calling (253) 761-5422. Dr. Petrie and our dental team are dedicated to providing personalized prosthodontic solutions tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Don’t wait any longer to achieve the beautiful, natural-looking smile you deserve. Take the first step toward a brighter future with Petrie Advanced Dental. We welcome new and existing patients in Lakewood, Federal Way, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, and University Place.
