A direct restoration is a dental repair that is placed and shaped in the mouth during a single visit. It commonly refers to tooth-colored fillings made with resin composite, but may also include other direct materials. Dentists use it to restore tooth shape and function after decay, wear, or minor fractures.
operative dentistry is the part of dentistry focused on diagnosing and treating defects in tooth structure. It commonly includes repairing cavities, replacing old fillings, and restoring chipped or worn teeth. It uses direct restorations (placed in the mouth in one visit) and sometimes supports indirect restorations (made outside the mouth). You will most often encounter it during routine dental visits for fillings, small repairs, and preventive sealing.
A facial prosthesis is an artificial replacement for a missing or damaged part of the face. It is most often made for the nose, ear, or eye/eyelid region after surgery, trauma, or congenital conditions. It is typically provided through maxillofacial prosthetics, a specialty that overlaps dentistry and head-and-neck care. It is designed to restore appearance and, in some cases, help with everyday function such as protecting sensitive tissues.
A nasal prosthesis is an artificial replacement for part or all of the external nose. It is most commonly used after cancer surgery, trauma, or congenital differences that change nasal shape. It is a type of **maxillofacial prosthesis**, often planned by a prosthodontist working with surgical teams. Its goals typically include restoring appearance and helping protect the nasal opening area.
An auricular prosthesis is a custom-made artificial ear that replaces all or part of the outer ear (auricle/pinna). It is most often used after congenital differences (such as microtia), trauma, or surgery to remove disease. An auricular prosthesis is typically made to match skin tone, shape, and surface details. It is commonly provided through maxillofacial prosthetics services, which may involve dental specialists working with surgical teams.
An ocular prosthesis is an artificial eye device made to replace the appearance of a missing or non-seeing eye. It is typically worn in the eye socket after eye removal surgery or when the natural eye has severely shrunk. Its main role is cosmetic and supportive, not vision-restoring. In dental settings, it may be planned or fabricated by maxillofacial prosthodontic teams who manage facial prostheses.
A palatal lift is a removable dental prosthesis that helps raise the soft palate. It is commonly used to support speech and sometimes swallowing when the palate is weak or does not move well. It is typically made by a prosthodontist or dentist, often in collaboration with a speech-language pathologist. It usually attaches to the upper teeth and extends toward the back of the mouth to gently elevate the soft palate.
A speech bulb is a removable dental prosthesis designed to help improve speech resonance in certain patients. It typically includes a palatal plate and a “bulb” extension that projects toward the back of the throat. It is most commonly used when the soft palate is too short to close properly during speech. It is usually planned with input from dental clinicians and a speech-language pathologist.
An obturator prosthesis is a removable dental appliance designed to close an opening (a “defect”) between the mouth and the nasal or sinus cavities. It is most commonly used after surgery that removes part of the upper jaw (maxilla) or palate, or when a similar opening exists from trauma or congenital conditions. By sealing the defect, it can help restore more typical speech, swallowing, and separation of oral and nasal spaces. It is part of prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics, where devices replace missing oral and facial structures.
A maxillofacial obturator is a custom-made prosthesis that closes an opening (defect) in the palate or upper jaw. It helps separate the mouth from the nose or sinus so a person can speak and swallow more normally. It is commonly used after surgery for oral cancer, after trauma, or for congenital conditions such as cleft palate. It is planned and made by dental specialists working within maxillofacial prosthetics and prosthodontics.