CHICAGO, March 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prosthodontics is one of only nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, yet many people still don't know what a prosthodontist is or does. The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is shedding light on these highly skilled dental specialists with advanced training who help patients achieve their perfect smile and optimal oral health as part of National Prosthodontics Awareness Week (NPAW), April 3-9, 2016.
"To honor 2016 National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, the ACP will be offering free access to selected research from the Journal of Prosthodontics. This could not have occurred at a better time, as the ACP has just released groundbreaking Clinical Practice Guidelines, which will be available for FREE as selected peer-reviewed research, as a way to celebrate," said ACP President Carl F. Driscoll, DMD, FACP.
Today, more than 120 million Americans are missing one or more teeth, and more than 35 million Americans are missing all of their teeth in one or both jaws, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) NHANES Study. A recent Journal of Prosthodontics' article in the January 2016 Issue by Dr. David A. Felton, DDS, MSD, FACP, titled "Complete Edentulism and Comorbid Diseases: An Update" cites dozens of studies throughout the medical literature showing that missing one or more teeth is correlated with unfavorable health outcomes.
The good news is that there is a solution…getting teeth replaced immediately and restored and keeping as many natural teeth for most of your life appears to mitigate many of these health risks. Also, once a patient has replaced and restored teeth, how should patients take care of them to keep them in tip-top shape?
Fortunately, the ACP has recently released the first Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for Restored Teeth. Prosthodontists have offered tips to care for restored teeth at home and for life backed by science, and they can be found here for a free download: Special Issue: ACP Clinical Practice Guidelines: Recall and Maintenance of Patients with Tooth-Borne and Implant-Borne Dental Restorations.
"Restored teeth using implants or traditional methods require lifelong maintenance in order to last longer, function well, and look gorgeous. Before the CPGs, we anecdotally understood some aspects of what worked, to care for restored teeth, but we now have clinical guidelines that all dentists can use to provide for professional and at-home lifelong care options," added Avinash Bidra, BDS, MS, FACP, lead author for the guidelines and NPAW Chair.
Prosthodontists are specialized dentists with advanced training in oral health issues, who are committed to improving patient outcomes. From implants, crowns, veneers and tooth whitening, to full-mouth reconstruction, Prosthodontists specialize in digital dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and sleep apnea solutions.
