Board certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics, Dr. Stuart Rimes is a prosthodontist in Sugar Land, Texas, who regularly treats patients needing dental implant restorations, cosmetic dentistry, crown and bridge restorations, dentures, sleep apnea, and temporomandibular joint disorders. In this article, he explains whether you can visit a prosthodontist for your general dentistry needs.
When someone asks me whether he can visit a prosthodontist for his general dentistry needs, the short answers is always yes. A prosthodontist has gone through all of the same dentistry classes and courses that a general dentist went through in dental school, with the only difference being that prosthodontists have actually gone through three years more of rigorous training even after earning their D.D.S.
Here at my prosthodontics practice in Texas, I have a hygienist who helps treat patients just like the hygienists who work in every other general dentistry office. I have many general dentistry patients who I care for just as their general dentist would.
With that said, though, I typically do not seek general dentistry patients, even though I will treat them if they come to me. And because some people just naturally feel more comfortable being treated by someone with more expertise in the field, I have a number of people who choose to visit a prosthodontist as opposed to a general dentist, even for their annual check ups and exams.
In a prosthodontist’s office, we have all of the latest devices and treat all of the most complex cases that come in. But at the same time, we are not going to send a patient out if he also needs a filling. We’ll take care of all types of things—big and small—in our office.
Routinely, the original reason that most people will come to a prosthodontist’s office is for help with a more complicated treatment. And then they will just stick with us even after we have helped them through that one situation.
Another way that we typically get general dentistry patients coming into the office is through referrals. So if a person comes into our office for help with his implants or TMJ disorder, and then is thrilled with his or her treatment, then there is a good chance that person might recommend us to their friends and family members. And it is common that we will keep them on as general dentistry patients, also.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
