Why Should You See a Dental Prosthetist?
It's not a job title you hear often, but if you're in need a partial or full dentures, a dental prosthetist is just the person to help you. Two thirds of the Australian population aged over 65 are missing enough teeth to warrant full or partial dentures, so it's time that the dental prosthetist became better known. Let's look at just what a dental prosthetist is and why it can be better to visit them instead of your dentist when you're in need of dentures.
What is a dental prosthetist?
A dental prosthetist who basically someone who deals with prosthetics of the mouth. They are specialised in the creation and manipulation of false teeth and mouthguards.
There are two levels to being in this particularly, specialised industry. A technician will work through a dentist and never meet the people who will wear the dentures. But a technician who has advanced to be a prostheist is legally allowed to run consultants themselves and deal with patients directly. So, if you need a dentures, you will be dealt with a dental technician or prosthetist one way or another.
Why is it better to visit a dental prosthetist instead of a dentist for dentures?
If you're missing teeth and are having trouble chewing and talking, you may decide that you need dentures. But is it better to go to your dentist or a prosthetist about this?
First of all, visit your dentist. They already know you and your mouth, especially if they extracted those now missing teeth, and will be also to give you recommendations as to your options.
You may then wish to get your dentures via your dentist. This may seem like the easier option, but there are benefits to visiting a prosthetist. You can get a referral from your dentist or simply book an appointment with a prosthetist. They will do what the dentist would have done; speak to you about the problems you're having, what you hope to gain from dentures and take a mould of your mouth. They will then create your dentures, knowing first-hand what you're after.
Getting your dentures through a prosthetist effectively cuts out the middle person and lowers the risk of mistakes or misunderstandings. Which in turn, should mean fewer repeat visits to alter the dentures until they fit correctly.
So if you need full or partial dentures, speak to your dentist or a denture clinic about the best way forward to a new smile.