What is a prosthodontist?

The short answer

Prosthodontics is one of the dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. After dental school, a prosthodontist completes an accredited specialty residency, typically three years, devoted to crowns, bridges, veneers, implant-supported teeth, dentures and the reconstruction of a whole mouth.

The everyday picture is simple. A general dentist looks after the whole mouth, from check-ups to fillings and many crowns. A prosthodontist is the specialist for cases where several problems interact: missing or failing teeth, a bite that has changed, or previous work that keeps failing.

What “board-certified” adds

Board certification is a further, voluntary step. A board-certified prosthodontist has passed the examinations of the American Board of Prosthodontics and is called a Diplomate of the Board. Dr. Kunal Lal has been a Diplomate since 2006.

What a prosthodontist treats

• Full-mouth rehabilitation, when most or all teeth need restoring
• Implant-supported teeth, from a single tooth to a full arch
• Crowns, bridges and veneers, particularly when appearance and bite both matter
• Dentures and implant-retained overdentures
• Worn, eroded or shortened teeth
• Failed crowns, bridges or implant restorations

When to see one

Consider a prosthodontist if several teeth are failing at once, if dental work has failed more than once, if your bite feels different, if dentures move when you eat or speak, or if you have been told you need a full arch of implants and want a second opinion. You do not need a referral, although many patients come with one, and your own dentist can stay involved.

What happens at a first visit

Expect a thorough examination, photographs, scans and, where needed, 3D imaging. The aim of the first visit is a clear explanation of what is wrong, why, and what the options are, including the option of doing less.