Prosthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the use of dental prosthetics. It involves the diagnosis, treatment planning and rehabilitation of dental problems, usually involving tooth loss or severe tooth damage, defects of maxillofacial region and the maintenance of prostheses that have been prescribed. In another dimension Prosthodontics mainly involves the treatment and management of problems that affect the appearance of the head and neck area hence aims at restoring or improving the cosmetics besides improving the function. In the course of implementing a dynamic treatment plan designed to resolve all the problems a patient has with his teeth and mouth, the Prosthodontist will need to oversee a team consisting of other dental and medical professionals, including general dentist. Some cases, however, require a multidisciplinary treatment approach, wherein Prosthodontics is combined with maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, head and neck surgery, occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy.

The highly dynamic nature of the science of Prosthodontics demands constant and continuous updating of the knowledge and skills in the advanced fields and technologies relating to it.

In GITAM Dental College and Hospital, the Prosthodontics department offers exceptional academic exposure and experience to meet the changing needs of a diverse patient population, enhancing knowledge and skills in the area of Prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Our faculty are fully committed to excellence in teaching and provide expert clinical care.

Major components of prosthodontic services offered in the department are complete denture, removable partial denture, fixed partial denture prosthodontics, dental implants, maxillofacial and TMJ appliances.

Various treatments that are provided in the department of Prosthodontics are:

• Restoring and replacing lost or severely damaged teeth
• Restoring the function and appearance of lost teeth
• Providing full mouth rehabilitation or full mouth reconstruction
• Management of congenital and acquired maxillofacial defects with emphasis on multidisciplinary management of patient problems
• Treatment of Sleep apnea and pain management.
• Dental implant surgery and implant prosthetics.
• TMJ dysfunction (causes, diagnosis, treatment approach and restoring problems), uses and abuses.

Objectives of the department:

• Provide students with information in the basic sciences as a foundation for understanding the literature and adapting future advances into the clinical practice of Prosthodontics.
• Introduce various advanced dental bio materials, techniques, equipment and encourage them to make the best use of the provided facilities.
• Train students who demonstrate proficiency with the diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment of prosthodontic patients with particular emphasis on the critical use of the existing literature and current knowledge.
• Train students who demonstrate proficiency with the management of patients requiring prosthodontic and implant treatment as well as the long-term supportive therapy of these patients.
• Training the students in Philosophy of practice and patient management, psychological implications.
• Motivating and educating them about the important components of a master’s thesis, the keys to success in master’s thesis research, the potential areas of prosthodontic research will be presented and discussed.
• Train students who generate, disseminate, preserve knowledge and serve the community and profession.
• Train students to practice Preventive and Interceptive prosthodontics and emphasize the importance of any procedure that can delay or eliminate future prosthodontics problems.

Specific competencies

• Able to understand and use various dental materials.
• Competent to carry out treatment of conventional complete and partial removable dentures and fabricate fixed partial dentures.
• Able to carry out treatment of routine prosthodontic procedures.
• Familiar with the concept of osseointegration and the value of implant-supported Prosthodontic procedures.