Wis it prosthetic? It’s a question that Dr. Anne Fabricius, owner of Oak Park Prosthodontics, often asks. With her characteristic smile she will enthusiastically explain that the prosthodontist is a dentist with three additional years of training in restorative dentistry. They are experts in cosmetics, crowns, implants, bridges, dentures and the management of complex dental problems. Currently, there are only four women in Illinois who are certified in prosthetics. Dr. Anne Fabricius is one of them, and the only one in the private practice.
A graduate of Harvard Dental School, Fabricius founded Oak Park Prosthodontics in 2013. She offers general dental services, including cleanings. as well as specialist services in the repair and replacement of teeth. In addition to her practice, she also teaches the full dental course at the University of Illinios in Chicago.
Why Prosthetic? “I love problem solving,” says Fabricius, “I love providing patients with unique solutions to solve a variety of dental problems.” Fabricius also enjoys the challenge and art of restoring teeth to natural beauty. In this sense, prosthetics is a field that combines medicine, science and art.
Fabricius credits major advances in technology, including new dental materials and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) with significantly improving patient care. While incorporating these advances into her practice, she is particularly excited about Computer Aided Dental Implant Surgery.
A dental implant is a titanium post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. A tooth, multiple teeth or dentures can be attached to a dental implant. A 3D patient model is created by a computer and used to plan the positions of the dental implants within the jawbone. A template is custom-made for the patient and used during surgery to guide the dental implants into the exact positions programmed into the digital model.
Implant surgery using a custom template can often be completed in less than an hour and is most often performed under local anesthetic only. Most patients experience little or no discomfort after the implant procedure.
There are significant advantages of computer-guided surgery:
• Reduced surgical risk. Because the implants are digitally designed, the risk of damage to nerves and other teeth is greatly reduced.
• Improved long-term results. When the implants are placed in the ideal position, the teeth attached to the implants will last longer.
• Fewer surgeries. Because dental implants can be driven into tight spaces, the need for bone grafting and other surgeries is often eliminated.
• Reduced surgical time. Because the implants are digitally designed, surgery time is greatly reduced. Complex surgeries can be performed in less than an hour.
• Less pain. Because the operation is done faster, there is less post-operative discomfort and pain.
If you are considering getting implants or any type of cosmetic dentistry, or are simply looking for a new dentist for regular care, call Dr. Anne Fabricius. Her practice, Oak Park Prosthodontics, is located at 185 N. Marion Street in Downtown Oak Park. Visit the website at OakParkImplants.com or call 708-386-0177.
