Problems of caries, injuries and periodontal disease often lead to the destruction of parts of the hard tooth tissue or the loss of entire teeth. Older people may have lost a large number or all of their teeth. The increase in life expectancy and the need to keep teeth in working order for many years has significantly increased the demand for the services offered by prosthetic dentists. In addition, prosthetists have the necessary training to deal with:

• Traumatic injuries of the mouth
• Oral deformities eg lycostoma or cleft lip
• Disorders of the temporomandibular joint
• Oral reconstruction after surgical removal of oral cancers
• Sleep disorders such as snoring or gnashing of teeth