What is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Prosthodontist?

There are many good General Dentists providing beneficial services to their patients. We know. Many of them refer patients to us, because special issues require specialists.

You’re used to visiting different medical specialists to get the exact type of care that you need. What you may not know is that there are also specialists in restorative dentistry. These dental specialists, known as Prosthodontists, deal in areas of dentistry where advanced skills and knowledge are required to preserve or restore optimal oral health. These services can extend from creating an all-natural single veneer or crown to match to adjacent anterior teeth in the smile line extending to implant or smile makeover comprehensive therapy. Some cases even require a full mouth reconstruction. For the wide range of services that we provide as a Prosthodontist see our example cases at our Smile Gallery

If your dental needs include replacing, repairing, or restoring teeth, you may need to visit a Prosthodontist such as Dr. Gerald Marlin at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry who is renowned for problem-solving a wide range of restorative issues. Keep reading to learn how a general dentist and a prosthodontist compare.

Education and Training Requirements

Most general dentists complete four years of undergraduate education as well as four years of dental school. Once they have completed dental school, General Dentists then go into practice. A specialist in dentistry then attends a post-graduate program to focus on one of the specific areas of dentistry: Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Pedodontics, or Oral Medicine.

Prosthodontists have also completed an additional three years of advanced training and education in restorative dentistry after finishing dental school. This intensified training includes all aspects of restoring the dentition with crowns and bridges, veneers, implants, and removable dentures, and partial dentures, and recently includes implant surgery. Dr. Marlin received his DMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s (MS) degree in Prosthodontics from Boston University Graduate Dental School.

Type of Dental Care Provided

General Dentists focus on services such as regular cleanings and routine dental care. They can also handle various other treatments, including cosmetic and restorative work, and obtain their increased training through continuing education programs.

Prosthodontists, on the other hand, as restorative dentistry specialists, have dedicated themselves to this special area of restorative care. Prosthodontists are often called upon to handle complicated cases that general dentists are not qualified to address. In fact, Dr. Marlin receives such referrals from general dentists locally and around the country, and from abroad, as well.

Many people are not sure which dental provider they need to see. Here are some reasons to visit a prosthodontist for your dental care.

Prosthodontists are well-equipped to help you achieve excellent oral health and a stunning smile. They undergo rigorous training to be able to find effective and long-lasting solutions for discomfort, cosmetic imperfections, and complex dental issues.

Prosthodontists are exceptionally qualified providers of many services, including:

• Implants
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Bridges
• Smile makeovers
• TMJ therapy
• Emergency dentistry

Washington, D.C. Prosthodontist Dr. Gerald Marlin is Accepting Patients

Dr. Gerald Marlin is a leading specialist in implant, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry who maintains control over difficult therapy by solely using his in-house laboratory. In addition, he has surgically inserted and restored over 3,400 implants and is frequently called upon to solve difficult dental problems.

Call 202-244-2101 today to schedule your appointment. Prosthetic Dentistry of Washington D.C. serves patients from Washington D.C., Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Arlington, and nearby areas of Maryland and Virginia.