When your prosthodontics patient presents
complex esthetic and functional challenges,
your best option may be referral to or
consultation with a prosthodontist.

Prosthodontists are dental specialists trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures required for patients who need complex treatment to restore optimum oral functions and esthetics.

Drawing on the Prosthodontist’s advanced training and specialized skills adds an important dimension to the treatment planning and patient care provided by the General Dentist.

Prosthodontists collaborate with General Dentists and other specialists to develop solutions to the dental and oral health concerns of the individual patient.

Whether working in an advisory capacity with the General Dentist or actually providing specialized treatment, the Prosthodontist’s collaboration can be a valuable asset in the planning and delivery of care for patients with complex oral conditions.

Experienced dentists and practice management experts agree that establishing referral relationships with a specialist colleague is a practice builder. Here are some of the ways in which a strong referral relationship with your Prosthodontist colleague will strengthen your practice.

Referring the patient with complex treatment needs to a Prosthodontist increases the time available to meet the demands of ongoing care for your other patients.

• Referring patients with complex problems builds patient loyalty, demonstrating to patients that their best interests take precedence over other considerations.

• Referral is a two-way process - as the General Practitioner refers patients with special needs to the specialist, the specialist in turn will refer patients seeking regular care to the General Practitioner.

• Our patients deserve the highest standard of care regardless of who provides that care. General Dentists are held to the specialist¹s standard of care when they provide treatment considered to be in the specialist¹s domain.

Your experience will tell you when referral to a specialist is your patient¹s best interest as well as cost effective for your practice. Call on your Prosthodontist colleague for consultation, assistance, or referral.

Patients requiring treatment by several specialties:

Patients whose extensive rehabilitation requirements involve care from several denial and medical disciplines, present special and time consuming problems for the General Dentist.

Prosthodontists are trained to manage and appropriately stage the treatment needs of such patients. When the rehabilitation is complete or simply well underway, the patient returns to the referring General Practitioner for ongoing maintenance care,

Complex implant-supported restorations:

Treating the patient whose significant esthetic problems combine with severe occlusal deficiencies requires development of a detailed multi-contingency plan of care. The complexities of designing and placing multi-implant-supported restorations can be substantial, particularly for patients with significant bone loss.

When sinus lift procedures or other strategies for increasing bone support are necessary, preoperative imaging and surgical guides help ensure optimal and accurate implant placement. Consultation with or referral to a Prosthodontist is crucial.

Challenging prosthesis designs:

Treating patients with severely resorted ridges, bony interferences or significantly inadequate vertical dimension can be difficult and the design and placement of prosthodontic appliances for such patients is often time consuming and frustrating. With such patients, consultation with or referral to a Prosthodontist can help assure a satisfactory outcome.

For patients with Class 3 or Class 4 Complete Edentulism, consultation with or referral to a Prosthodontist is strongly recommended. The Classification System for Complete Edentulism developed by the American College of Prosthodontists and widely accepted by U.S. dental schools, categorizes edentulous patients according to level of complexity. [See T, McGarry, et al., Classification System for Complete Edentulisin, 1 Prosthodontics 8(1):27-39, March 1999.]

Geriatric patients:

The design and fabrication of new dentures for patients with impaired cognitive status or diminished neuromuscular skills, may necessitate a complex mental and emotional evaluation supplementing an assessment of bone volume and tissue condition. Neurological or psychological problems such as depression or cognitive disorders, including all stages of Alzheimer¹s disease, complicate treatment planning and delivery. Prosthodontists are trained in the management of such patients.

Complications:

Implementing treatment plans for patients whose oral/occlusal condition has evolved in unexpected and complicated ways during dental treatment can be challenging. Because not every outcome can be predicted during planning, referral of these patients to a Prosthodontist may be the best option.

Functional deficits:

Patients with severe functional deficits resulting from trauma, cancer surgery or as a result of developmental defects such as cleft palate or other craniofacial anomalies present special challenges. Procedures that fail to take into account the long-term occlusal requirements of such individuals may lead to further functional or esthetic problems.

Your prosthodontist colleagues draw on their advanced training and experience to assist you:

• by acting in an advisory capacity as you plan treatment for patients with difficult problems.

• by providing specialized treatment as an element in your treatment plan.

• by managing patients with complex and/or multidisciplinary treatment needs.

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