National Prosthodontics Awareness Week – April 19-25, 2026

 Dr. Rachel Squier is the architect of a new smile

What is a prosthodontist?

Well, if you’ll pardon the pun, the word itself is quite a mouthful.  The work prosthodontists do is complicated, but the word is pretty simple: it’s a dentist who specializes in prosthetic devices of the mouth.  Prosthetic means artificial or manmade.  You know, like a prosthetic limb?  So, a prosthodontist is a dentist who spends several extra years learning and practicing how to work with prosthetic devices like implants (more on that later), dentures, bridges, crowns, veneers, etc.

Why is there a specialty in dentistry for these things?  Well, dentistry at its simplest is pretty simple, but at its most complex can be life changing.  Most people would agree that the mouth and all of its moving parts are both complicated and important.  When the strongest muscles in the human body (the jaw muscles) push together thirty-two teeth, a lot can go wrong and does.  When one thing goes wrong, other troubles often follow.  A prosthodontist, along with working with those prosthetic devices of the mouth, is trained to look at the big picture and, like a symphony conductor, get all the players in harmony.

As with most other things these days, technology has advanced quickly, and prosthodontists are at the forefront.  One technology, dental implants (titanium screws that are combined with a crown) are state-of-the-art tooth replacement.  Prosthodontists can use dental implants to replace one or more teeth, or to anchor a denture or a bridge.  These specialists receive extra training in planning, choosing, and placing the implants correctly, and they are experts at matching and designing the replacement crown.  It’s exacting, detail-oriented work.

“If you had a heart problem, you would go to a heart specialist, a cardiologist. The same is true for missing or damaged teeth,” said Dr. Rachel Squier of Treasure Coast Dental. “Whether it’s chewing your favorite food or creating the smile of your dreams, prosthodontists are your partners in healthy, long-lasting restored teeth.”

Dr. Squier completed her prosthodontics training at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (she went to Harvard as an undergraduate).  She is board-certified, one of only handful in the country and the only female in the state of Florida. Her practice, Treasure Coast Dental, is a prosthodontics group.  Together, she and her fellow specialists and staff have provided the best dental care for St. Lucie and Martin County residents for thirty-five years.  From routine general dentistry to life-altering cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry, Dr. Squier has the unique skills to provide meticulous, individualized treatment.  She takes the time to listen to patients’ goals and concerns, and to educate them on treatment options to help them make the best decisions for their long-term dental health and happiness.

Prosthodontics may be a complicated word, but the colleagues and patients of Dr. Squier’s practice trust her to be a master of a complicated job.  April 19-25, 2026 is National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, the perfect time to explore your options for a brand new smile.  Visit GoToAPro.org to learn more about what a prosthodontist can do for you or visit Dr. Rachel Squier’s website: www.tcdentalpros.com to learn more about her and what she can offer.