Prosthodontics and Dental Credentials

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Increasingly, people are choosing a prosthodontist for their restorative dentistry needs.
However, there still remain misperceptions about this dental specialty. We say it is time to clear up any confusion, so you can make an informed decision about whether prosthodontics is right for you.

For the next 2 weeks, we will cover some myths and facts about prosthodontics and dental credential, starting with Myths 1 & 2:

Myth #1
Prosthodontists and general dentists are one in the same because they do the same work.

FACT
After earning a four-year dental degree at an accredited institution, general dentists immediately begin accepting patients. Prosthodontists are specialists recognized by the American Dental Association who have trained for at least two more years beyond dental school to become the architects of dental reconstruction.

Myth #2
Dentists offer crowns, dental implants, dentures and veneers and just like prosthodontists.

FACT
It is true that general dentists are licensed to perform many of these procedures. But again, general dentists attend four years of dental school and the requirements are minimal. The standard dental school requirements encompass the basics of crowns, bridges and denture procedures. Many dental students never complete a single dental implant case in school. That means that most general dentists have not done one implant case when they open their doors.

Conversely, prosthodontists are required to complete a multitude of complex dental treatments before they receive their certificate, which equates to more than several years of practice in an average general dental office. A prosthodontist fine tunes their skill by focusing on complex treatments for the entire 2-4 years of training beyond dental school.