CHAPTER OF PROSTHODONTISTS

Prosthodontists are specialist dental surgeons with advanced training in the diagnosis, restoration and maintenance of comfortable oral function, appearance and health of an individual by restoration of the natural teeth and/or replacement of missing teeth and associated tissues with artificial substitutes. As such, prosthodontists specialize in the aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth and surrounding tissues.

Prosthodontists perform the role of the oral architect in the dental team. Thus prosthodontists develop treatment plans and co-ordinate treatment sequences with other dental/medical specialists as well as general dentists, to provide comprehensive dental care to patients.

Prosthodontists play a major role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of oral rehabilitation. After the identification of the cause of oral deterioration, prosthodontists work closely with the relevant specialties to develop an effective treatment strategy to restore function and aesthetics to the individual. They carry out comprehensive dental treatment solutions to restore such as direct fillings, dentures, veneers, crowns, bridges, implants, splints/mouthguards and cosmetic dentistry.

Maxillo-facial prosthetics is a sub-specialty of Prosthodontics that involves rehabilitation of patients with defects or disabilities that were present at birth or developed due to disease (eg. cancer malignancy) or trauma.

Prosthodontists have to undergo a formal basic specialist training (BST) programme of at least 36 months and attain a basic specialist qualification, eg MDS (Prosthodontics) (NUS) or its equivalent, that is recognised by the Dental Specialists Accreditation Board.

Prosthodontists then must be in prosthodontic practice for a minimum period of five (5) years; this period includes the duration of basic specialist training (BST) mentioned above. They must fulfill the requisite core component in Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for specialists and complete a log of cases encompassing fixed and removable prosthodontics.

Upon successful completion of the above, prosthodontists present for an assessment by the Prosthodontic Dental Specialist Accreditation Committee (DSAC) to be accredited specialist status.

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