Sometimes, through a variety of factors, including genetics, poor oral hygiene, poor diet, medication side effects, trauma, etc. the entire or nearly the entire dentition is affected and needs to be treated as a whole for optimum function and esthetics.  Such treatments are often difficult and time consuming.  Unfortunately, sometimes this is the only proper course of therapy for an individual. 

Multiple dental specialties such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics and prosthodontics are often used to achieve the desired dentistry.  The makeover shows that are popular on television right now emphasize cosmetics, but in reality showcase the many facets of dentistry required to restore a patient's dentition.  A prosthodontist is usually the last dentist employed to do the final reconstructive dentistry.

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