What is a prothodontist?

[blankguy]

The dentist I saw today at Tufts faculty practice is a prothodontist. When I asked him what he does he made an analogy to an architect where he plans out what is needed and draws up what type of people are needed to get the job done(i.e electrician, plumber, bricklayer, etc...). I found this to be an awkward analogy, but the idea I got was that a prothodontist looks at the whole mouth and tries to figure out a way to restore your mouth and if there is a gum issue he refers you to a periodontist, if there is root canal needed he points you to a endodontist, and if you need some teeth realigned you get referred to a orthodontist. He stated that being an prothodontist is hard work and that some people who want it easy go to orthodontics, endodontics and other specialities instead.

The impression that I got since he also doubles as a general practicioner is that a prothodontist could be like a souped up general practioner, is this a correct way of putting it? 😕

I aksed him how many students he teaches, he stated 15 students in total and that some of them had been in dentisttry for quite some time and are older than him. This info for me at this point is not very useful since I first have to get into dental school.

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[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Prosthodontists specialize mainly in the "mechanics" of dentistry: crowns, bridges, dentures. Some go into fabricating prostheses for the entire head and neck. People who have lost a nose/ear/eye to something like cancer or fire will often have a prosthesis designed and fitted by a specially trained prosthodontist. But most stick to extensive and/or complicated bridges and dentures.

http://www.prosthodontics.org/cf-dbm/about/c-about.cfm

 

[blankguy]

So that allows them to double as a GP as well?? 😕

 

[c132]

Yes---- Some/Most prosthodontists practice as a GP. Pros is a weird spec. But it has its rewards. I have a LOT of respect for one> To me, it is the most respectable specialty that one can do!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

any specialist can choose to set up shop as a GP. They just can no longer call themselves a periodontist/orthodontist/whatever. I have heard that it is getting tough to have a prosth-only practice as new materials and techniques have brought all but the most complex cases within the realm of the GP. I mean, what GP in his right mind is going to regularly send crown and bridge out of his office? That's a quick way to go broke.

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

on the same note, I have heard that a significant number of pedo grads choose to practice as GPs after a few years of practice. People don't really know what they're getting into, I guess. 😉 I have heard that there are always a few perio grads who decide to do GP as well.

 

[blankguy]

Why would they go back to GP? Is it because of not enough perio cases or what?