Prosthodontic care at Dorion & Associates combines artistry with advanced dental science Our board-trained prosthodontists specialize in complex restorations and smile transformations that general dentistry simply cannot achieve, delivering results that look natural and last a lifetime.
You’ve heard of orthodontists who straighten teeth. You know periodontists treat gum disease. But when your dentist mentions referring you to a prosthodontist, you might wonder: what exactly does that mean, and why do I need one?
Here’s the truth: prosthodontists are dentistry’s master craftsmen – the specialists who transform damaged, missing, or severely compromised teeth into beautifully restored smiles that function perfectly. They’re the experts you turn to when your dental situation is complex, when aesthetics matter deeply, or when you want results that will truly last.
At Dorion & Associates, our prosthodontic expertise sets us apart. We don’t just fix teeth. We architect comprehensive solutions that restore your confidence, your function, and your quality of life.
A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth, receiving three to four years of additional training after dental school to restore optimal appearance and function to one’s smile.
The word “prosthodontics” comes from the words “prostho,” meaning replacement, and “dontist,” meaning teeth. But this simple definition barely scratches the surface of what these specialists can do.
According to the American Dental Association, prosthodontics is “the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.”
In practical terms? Prosthodontists are the architects of your smile. They’re the specialists who handle the most complex dental restorations, cases that require exceptional technical skill, artistic vision, and comprehensive treatment planning.
You might be thinking: “My general dentist does crowns and bridges. Why would I need a specialist?”
It’s a fair question. Many general dentists perform excellent restorative work. But here’s the crucial distinction: prosthodontists specialize exclusively in this work. They’ve dedicated three additional years to mastering the intricacies of dental restoration, aesthetics, and function.
Think of it this way: you might hire a general contractor to remodel a bathroom. But for designing and building an architectural masterpiece? You’d want a specialized architect and master craftsman.
After completing four years of dental school, prosthodontists undergo rigorous clinical and didactic preparation in the basic sciences, head and neck anatomy, biomedical sciences, biomaterial sciences, implant surgery, function of occlusion (bite), TMJ, and treatment planning and experience treating full-mouth reconstruction cases, and aesthetics.
This specialized education covers:
Biomaterial Sciences: Understanding which materials work best for specific situations, how they interact with oral tissues, and how to maximize longevity.
Occlusion and Function: Mastering how teeth fit together when you bite, chew, and speak—crucial for long-term comfort and success.
Complex Treatment Planning: Coordinating multiple procedures into a comprehensive plan that delivers optimal results.
Aesthetic Design: Combining science with artistry to create restorations that look completely natural.
Implant Surgery and Restoration: Advanced training in both placing and restoring dental implants, ensuring seamless integration.
Full-Mouth Reconstruction: Expertise in rebuilding entire smiles when multiple teeth are compromised.
Certain dental challenges require the specialized knowledge and skill that only a prosthodontist provides:
Complex Smile Makeovers
Are you dissatisfied with multiple aspects of your smile? Stained, crooked, worn, or misshapen teeth affecting your confidence? A prosthodontist combines technical precision with aesthetic expertise to design and execute comprehensive smile transformations.
Unlike simple cosmetic procedures, a true smile makeover considers your facial structure, smile dynamics, bite function, and long-term oral health. Studies show that 25% of Americans say that their smile or teeth are the one facial feature they would change to boost their self-esteem—a prosthodontist can make that transformation a reality.
Extensive Tooth Loss
Missing multiple teeth creates cascading problems. Your remaining teeth shift. Your bite changes. Bone loss accelerates. Facial structure can collapse. General dentistry offers basic solutions, but a prosthodontist develops comprehensive treatment plans that address all these interconnected issues.
Whether you need implant-supported bridges, partial dentures, or complete denture solutions, a prosthodontist ensures your restoration looks natural, fits comfortably, and functions optimally.
Failed Previous Dental Work
Has a crown failed repeatedly? Are your veneers chipping? Do your dentures never quite fit right? These situations often indicate underlying problems that weren’t addressed in the initial treatment—problems a prosthodontist is trained to identify and solve.
Prosthodontists excel at diagnosing why previous work failed and creating solutions that address root causes, not just symptoms.
TMJ Disorders and Bite Problems
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. When this joint dysfunction causes pain, clicking, difficulty opening your mouth, or chronic headaches, you need specialized care.
Prosthodontists routinely treat TMJ disorders through carefully designed oral appliances, bite adjustments, and comprehensive treatment plans that address both immediate symptoms and underlying causes.
Congenital Conditions or Trauma
Were you born without certain teeth? Has injury damaged your teeth, jaw, or facial structure? Have cancer treatments affected your oral health? These complex situations require the comprehensive expertise that prosthodontists provide.
Specially trained prosthodontists also work with people with head and neck deformities, replacing missing parts of the jaw and face—work that requires exceptional skill and artistic sensitivity.
Full-Mouth Reconstruction
When multiple teeth throughout your mouth are damaged, decayed, or missing, you need more than individual fixes. You need a comprehensive reconstruction that considers how every element works together.
Full-mouth reconstruction might involve dental implants, crowns, bridges, veneers, and more—all coordinated into a unified treatment plan. This is where prosthodontic training truly shines.
Prosthodontists offer a comprehensive range of advanced restorative treatments:
Crowns: Beyond Basic Coverage
While general dentists place crowns, prosthodontists excel at complex crown work—crowns on implants, full-mouth crown reconstructions, and cases requiring precise aesthetic matching.
A dental crown completely covers a tooth, providing a solution for decayed, broken, or worn-down teeth. But a prosthodontist-designed crown considers occlusion, aesthetics, material selection, and longevity in ways that ensure exceptional results.
Bridges: Strategic Tooth Replacement
Missing one or more adjacent teeth? An implant-supported bridge might be your ideal solution. Prosthodontists design bridges that distribute forces properly, maintain bone health, and blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Veneers and Smile Design
Porcelain veneers can transform your smile, but achieving natural-looking results requires exceptional skill. Prosthodontists understand smile dynamics—how your teeth should look when you smile, talk, and laugh. They create veneers that enhance your appearance while maintaining proper function.
Complete and Partial Dentures
Dentures replace missing teeth, but poorly designed dentures slip, cause discomfort, and look artificial. Prosthodontists specialize in proper fit and placement of crowns, bridges, and removable or solid dentures, ensuring comfort, stability, and natural appearance.
Dental Implant Planning and Restoration
The surgical placement of implants as prosthetic replacements for natural tooth roots has become standard practice in prosthodontics. Prosthodontists bring advanced training in both the planning and restoration phases, ensuring your implants integrate perfectly with your smile.
It’s estimated that every year in the United States, nearly 300,000 people receive dental implants—many assessed and positioned by prosthodontists who ensure optimal outcomes.
Implant-Supported Dentures
For patients missing most or all teeth, implant-supported dentures offer the stability of implants with the comprehensive coverage of dentures. This combination provides far superior function and comfort compared to traditional dentures.
All-on-4 Full Arch Restoration
This innovative technique uses just four strategically placed implants to support a complete arch of teeth. Prosthodontists excel at planning and executing these complex cases that transform smiles in a single day.
Here’s something many people don’t realize: prosthodontics is the only dental specialty under which the concentration of cosmetic/esthetic dentistry falls.
The American Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a specialty on its own. When you want a true cosmetic transformation—not just whitening or simple bonding, but comprehensive aesthetic rehabilitation—you need a prosthodontist.
Prosthodontists combine the skill of dentistry with an artistic eye to create natural-looking restorations. They understand:
Smile Dynamics: How your smile should look in motion, not just in posed photos.
Facial Aesthetics: How your teeth relate to your facial features and proportions.
Natural Variation: That perfect teeth aren’t identical—they have subtle variations that make them look real.
Age-Appropriate Design: Creating restorations that enhance your appearance while looking natural for your age.
What makes prosthodontic care at Dorion & Associates exceptional?
Comprehensive Expertise Under One Roof
Our practice uniquely combines prosthodontic specialists with expert periodontists. This means your implant placement and restoration are coordinated seamlessly—no referrals to different offices, no conflicting treatment plans.
When periodontists and prosthodontists collaborate from the beginning, you get superior results. The surgical placement considers the final restoration, and the restoration design guides the surgical approach.
Advanced Technology Meets Artistry
We utilize state-of-the-art digital technology for treatment planning, design, and fabrication. 3D imaging allows us to visualize your final results before treatment begins. Digital impressions ensure precise fit. CAD/CAM technology enables us to create restorations with exceptional accuracy.
But technology alone isn’t enough. Our prosthodontists bring the artistic vision and technical skill that transform digital designs into beautiful realities.
Complex Cases Are Our Specialty
Many general dentists refer their most challenging cases to prosthodontists. At Dorion & Associates, we welcome these complex situations. Full-mouth reconstructions, challenging aesthetic cases, failed previous treatment—these are the cases where prosthodontic expertise truly matters.
Personalized Treatment Planning
No two smiles are identical, and no two treatment plans should be either. Our prosthodontists spend significant time in consultation, understanding your goals, concerns, and expectations. We develop customized treatment plans that address your unique situation.
Understanding the process helps you feel confident and prepared:
Comprehensive Consultation
Your first visit involves a thorough examination and detailed discussion. We assess your current dental condition, understand what’s bothering you about your smile, and explore your goals for treatment.
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
We use 3D scans, photographs, and detailed impressions to understand your current situation and plan your ideal results. This diagnostic phase is crucial for complex cases.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Based on our findings, we develop a comprehensive treatment plan. For complex cases, this might involve multiple procedures coordinated over several months. We’ll explain every step, answer all questions, and ensure you understand what to expect.
Skilled Execution
Our prosthodontists execute your treatment plan with precision and artistry. Whether it’s preparing teeth for crowns, designing a full-mouth reconstruction, or restoring dental implants, exceptional technical skill ensures optimal results.
Attention to Detail
The difference between good and exceptional prosthodontic work often comes down to small details—the precise shade matching, the perfect contour, the ideal bite adjustment. Our prosthodontists obsess over these details because they’re what make restorations look and feel completely natural.
Consider Maria, a 52-year-old executive who had lived with damaged, discolored teeth for years. Multiple failed crowns had left her self-conscious about her smile. A comprehensive prosthodontic evaluation revealed underlying bite problems contributing to the failures.
Our prosthodontist developed a treatment plan addressing her bite, replacing all compromised restorations, and creating a cohesive, beautiful smile. Six months later, Maria reports feeling like a different person—confident in meetings, smiling freely in photos, no longer hiding her teeth when she laughs.
Or David, who lost multiple teeth to periodontal disease and injury. Traditional dentures made him feel old and limited what he could eat. Our combined periodontal-prosthodontic approach created an implant-supported solution that restored full function. “I forgot what it felt like to bite into an apple,” he says. “Now I can eat anything, and my smile looks better than it did twenty years ago.”
Prosthodontic treatment is often more expensive than basic dental work due to its complexity and unique requirements. But consider what you’re investing in:
Longevity: Prosthodontist-designed restorations typically last longer because they’re planned and executed with exceptional precision.
Function: Proper bite, comfortable fit, and optimal function mean you can eat, speak, and live without limitation.
Aesthetics: Professional-quality aesthetics that look completely natural and enhance your confidence.
Comprehensive Solutions: Addressing root causes, not just symptoms, prevents future problems and additional costs.
Expertise: The peace of mind that comes from working with a specialist who has dedicated years to mastering this specific area of dentistry.
Your general dentist provides excellent routine care and can handle many restorative procedures. But certain situations demand specialized expertise:
In these situations, a prosthodontist provides the specialized knowledge, advanced training, and exceptional skill that makes all the difference.
You wouldn’t trust a general practitioner to perform complex heart surgery. Why trust anything less than a specialist for complex dental restoration?
At Dorion & Associates, our prosthodontists bring world-class training, years of experience, and a passion for excellence to every case. We don’t just restore teeth—we transform lives through beautiful, functional, lasting results.
Whether you’re facing a single complex restoration or a complete smile transformation, prosthodontic expertise ensures you get results that exceed your expectations.
Curious whether prosthodontic care is right for you? The first step is a comprehensive consultation. Our prosthodontists will evaluate your situation, discuss your goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Don’t settle for basic solutions when specialist care can deliver truly exceptional results. Experience the Dorion & Associates difference—where prosthodontic expertise meets personalized, compassionate care.
Cary Office
919-650-1101
270 Cornerstone Drive, Unit 106
Cary, NC 27519
Chapel Hill Office
919-967-5099
920 MLK Jr Blvd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Transform your smile with prosthodontic excellence. Schedule your consultation at Dorion & Associates today.