A DEFINITION OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

Purpose: A more precise and up-to-date definition of prosthetic dentis try is warranted. The aim of the present review is to present a new co re definition of the discipline on the basis of a discussion of existi ng definitions. Materials and Methods: Clinical textbooks in prostheti c dentistry and dental implantology, as well as medical and dental glo ssaries were reviewed. Results: Two main categories of definitions of prosthetic dentistry were identified: first, definitions that emphasiz ed the technologic aspects of the discipline, ie, the fabrication of p rostheses; and second, definitions that incorporated some reference to the objectives or aims of prosthetic treatment, ie, the restoration o f one or more aspects of oral function. Slightly more than half of the citations contained such aim-related references, and this aspect tend ed to be most pronounced in recent publications. Conclusion: The follo wing definition is ventured: prosthodontics is the discipline of denti stry concerned with the consequences of congenital absence or acquired loss of oral tissues and with the methods for and assessment whether more good than harm is done by inserting artificial devices made from alloplastic materials.