When it comes to taking control of your oral health, it’s normal to ask yourself several questions such as which professional to consult, how often, for what needs, etc. With their similar names, dentist and denturist are particularly easy to mix up. However, their expertise is far from being the same. Do not go to your dentist with a dental prosthesis problem, most of them won’t be able to help you.
For a start, here is an easy trick to differentiate denturists and dentists. The dentist takes care of your dental health. The denturist deals with dentures, which is another word for dental prostheses. Here are some other ways to differentiate these two dental health specialties.
What is a denturist?
The denturist mainly deals with dental prostheses. He:
- Meets the patient ;
- Evaluates the dental protheses needs of the latter ;
- Determines the necessary treatment plan ;
- Designs dental prostheses ;
- Install them in the patient’s mouth ;
- Adjusts them if necessary ;
- Does a follow up to confirm the dentures are working as intended.
The denturist is a professional who has completed college studies to specialize in the manufacture of dental prostheses. The need to consult this dental health professional is very specific. In fact, if you don’t need dentures, you don’t need to see a denturist.
To learn more about the work of the denturist, we recommend that you read this other article from our blog: “What is a denturist? “.
The main differences between dentist and denturist
Denturology and dental prostheses being a separate specialization, denturologists go through more than 2000 hours of specific training in the field by obtaining their diploma compared to dentists who devotes only a small fraction of their academic time to it.
The dentist keeps your teeth and mouth healthy. If he sees problems looming, he has all the necessary skills to detect them. He is also able to perform certain dental prosthesis treatments, but it is very likely that he will recommend seeing a denturist.
In the event of having a problem with your actual dentures or now needing to use some to eat, your dentist will let you know and refer you to a denturist for the treatment.
Conversely, if you do not need dentures, you do not need to see a denturist. But you must continue to see your dentist! By doing so, you will limit the chances of needing a denturist in the future.
When should I see a dentist? When should I see a denturist?
Everyone should see a dentist at least once a year. Depending on age, lifestyle and necessary care, this need may increase. For example, people with gum disease should see their dentist more frequently.
As mentioned above for the denturist, the need to see one generally arises when the time to repair or replace one or more teeth with the help of dental prostheses comes. It should be noted that an annual visit is still necessary in order to maintain the proper functioning of your dental prostheses.
Get a free denturology consultation at Sourire Candiac
You think you might need dentures? One or more of your teeth are damaged or missing? Has your dentist recommended that you consult a denturist? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Sourire Candiac team is here for you! Fill out the contact form on our website for a free consultation.
