5 things to know about the American College of Prosthodontists
Fourth installment of Specialty Spotlight
Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment in a 13-part ADA News series profiling the National Commission and each of the 12 recognized specialty sponsoring organizations. Here are five facts you may not know about the American College of Prosthodontists from its president, Douglas Benting, D.D.S., F.A.C.P.
1. Prosthodontics is a recognized 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. Prosthodontists complete a three-year Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited residency training a er dental school focused on the restoration of teeth, dental implants and areas of missing teeth. The three-year residency focuses on developing a working knowledge of historical and present-day research oriented toward the clinical practice of dentistry, restorative materials used in dentistry and combination of art and science required to create optimal restorative outcomes for our dental patients.
2. Prosthodontists serve our communities through direct patient care in clinical settings focused on scenarios that include one or several teeth as well as comprehensive restorative treatment involving the entire mouth and related structures. Prosthodontists restore natural teeth, dental implants and areas of missing teeth as a result of tooth decay, trauma or congenitally altered scenarios. Prosthodontists are educators at dental schools and are actively involved in developing continuing professional education. Prosthodontists continue to develop research designed to improve the general understanding of restorative related topics in dentistry with the goal of optimizing clinical outcomes.
3. The American College of Prosthodontists is a community of 3,800 prosthodontists with the vision that everyone deserves a healthy smile. The ACP works with the ACP Education Foundation and the American Board of Prosthodontics to develop, maintain and enhance our specialty. The ACP has worked to foster relationships and collaborate with other organizations focused on restorative dentistry in education, research, clinical practice and dental laboratory technology through the ACP Prosthodontic Forum.
4. Prosthodontists collaborate with oral surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists and many other dental specialties, as well as general dentists, physicians and other health care professionals to create a comprehensive approach for restorative dental treatment for our patients.
5. Prosthodontists have been directly involved in developing new approaches to dental treatment and creating workflows designed to enhance restorative outcomes for our patients. Prosthodontists have helped to create treatment protocols for dental implants and, more recently, digital application to modernize approaches to restorative dentistry that include the diagnosis, planning, and rehabilitation important in the maintenance of chewing function, enhancing speech sounds, comfort, appearance and overall health for our patients. For more information about the American College of Prosthodontists, visit prosthodontics.org
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