Prosthodontics in Mukilteo, WA | Plaza Pointe Dental Specialists

Dr. Christina Tran, Prosthodontist at Plaza Pointe Dental Specialists, Mukilteo, WA

Meet Our Prosthodontist: Dr. Christina Tran

Dr. Christina Tran was drawn to dentistry by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in her patients' lives. Her path to becoming a prosthodontist began at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. After gaining experience in private practice, she pursued advanced training in Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Tran's experience includes working in Hollywood, where she provided aesthetic and restorative care in a highly demanding environment. There, she worked closely with an in-house dental surgeon and lab to plan and deliver complex treatment, including multiple full-mouth rehabilitations.

Her background gives her a unique perspective on both the artistry and precision involved in rebuilding smiles.

What Is Prosthodontics?

Prosthodontics is a dental specialty focused on restoring and replacing teeth. It includes the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance, and health for patients with missing, damaged, worn, or deficient teeth.

A prosthodontist has advanced training in complex restorative dentistry, tooth replacement, dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, bite function, and full-mouth reconstruction. In many complex cases, the prosthodontist helps guide the overall treatment plan so each part of the smile works together properly.

You can think of a prosthodontist as the architect of a restored smile: someone who considers the full structure, function, appearance, materials, and long-term durability before treatment begins.

When Should You See a Prosthodontist?

You may benefit from seeing a prosthodontist if your dental needs go beyond routine care. Prosthodontic services may be recommended for patients with:

A prosthodontist can help create a comprehensive treatment plan instead of addressing each problem separately. This is especially important when multiple teeth, the bite, smile aesthetics, and long-term function all need to be considered together.

Missing teeth
Severely worn teeth
Broken, cracked, or damaged teeth
A failing bite
Complex cosmetic concerns
Old restorations that need replacement
Dentures that feel loose or uncomfortable
Multiple dental problems that need coordinated treatment
Interest in dental implants or implant-supported restorations

Diagnostic Wax-Ups

Every successful smile restoration begins with a plan. Diagnostic wax-ups are an important planning tool for cosmetic dentistry, dental restorations, and full-mouth rehabilitation.

Before treatment begins, a series of records may be collected, including photographs, X-rays, intraoral scans, diagnostic models, and bite measurements. These details help the prosthodontist understand the current condition of your teeth, bone, bite, and smile.

A diagnostic wax-up is a model that shows the proposed shape, size, and position of the future teeth. This allows you and your prosthodontist to preview the treatment plan before changes are made to the natural teeth. It also helps guide more precise, predictable treatment.

Dental Implant Restorations

Dental implants are a durable and natural-looking tooth replacement option. While the implant post replaces the tooth root, the restoration is the visible part of the treatment: the crown, bridge, denture, or full-arch prosthesis that attaches to the implant.

As a prosthodontic practice, we focus on designing and restoring implant-supported teeth so they blend with your smile and function comfortably. Each restoration is carefully planned for shape, size, color, bite fit, and long-term stability.

Dental Crowns and Partial Crowns

When a tooth is significantly damaged, weakened, worn, or decayed but can still be saved, a dental crown may be recommended. A crown is a custom-made restoration that covers and protects the visible portion of the tooth while restoring strength, shape, and appearance.

Partial crowns may be used when a tooth needs support but does not require full coverage. These restorations can help preserve more natural tooth structure while improving durability and function.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made restorations bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth. They can be used to improve the appearance of teeth affected by discoloration, chips, minor gaps, uneven edges, or slight misalignment.

Veneers are carefully shaped and shaded to harmonize with your facial features and natural smile. Details such as tooth proportion, surface texture, translucency, and color are selected with care to create a result that looks refined but not artificial.

In many cases, veneers require only minimal preparation of the enamel. The goal is to enhance the smile while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

Teeth in a Day / All-on-4

For patients who need a full arch of teeth replaced, Teeth in a Day or All-on-4 treatment may provide a stable alternative to traditional dentures.

This approach uses strategically placed dental implants to support a full set of replacement teeth. The result is designed to feel more secure than removable dentures and can restore the ability to eat, speak, and smile with greater confidence.

Full-Mouth Rehabilitation

Full-mouth rehabilitation is a comprehensive approach for patients with extensive dental concerns. It may combine multiple treatments, such as crowns, veneers, dental implants, implant restorations, bite correction, and dentures.

The goal is to restore the entire mouth's health, function, comfort, and appearance. Rather than treating one tooth at a time without a larger plan, full-mouth rehabilitation considers how all parts of the smile work together.

Removable Dentures and Partials

Dentures and partials are reliable tooth replacement options for patients missing several teeth or a full arch of teeth.

Complete dentures replace all teeth in an upper or lower arch. Partial dentures fill gaps when some natural teeth remain. Modern dentures are designed to look more natural and feel more comfortable than older styles, with careful attention to fit, function, and appearance.

Snap-On Dentures / Overdentures

Snap-on dentures, also called overdentures, are removable dentures supported by dental implants. The denture attaches to the implants for improved stability compared with traditional removable dentures.

This can help reduce slipping, improve chewing confidence, and offer a middle-ground option between conventional dentures and fixed implant-supported teeth.

Benefits of Prosthodontic Care

Prosthodontic care is designed for patients who need more than routine dentistry.

Specialized Training — A prosthodontist completes additional specialty training after dental school focused on restoring and replacing teeth, including complex treatment planning, smile aesthetics, dental materials, bite function, implant restorations, and full-mouth rehabilitation.
Comprehensive Treatment Planning — A prosthodontist looks at the full picture, including tooth condition, bite alignment, smile design, missing teeth, existing restorations, and long-term oral health. This helps avoid patchwork dentistry and supports a more stable, predictable result.
Function and Aesthetics — Prosthodontic treatment focuses on restoring both appearance and everyday use, including chewing, speaking, smiling, and long-term comfort.
Advanced Materials and Technology — Prosthodontic treatment often involves careful use of modern dental materials, digital planning, scans, models, and precise restorative techniques to support treatment that is customized, durable, and natural-looking.
Long-Term Results — A prosthodontist designs treatment with longevity in mind. By considering the entire mouth and how each restoration fits into the larger plan, prosthodontic care can help reduce future complications and support long-term oral health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a prosthodontist and a regular dentist?

A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who completes additional training after dental school focused on restoring and replacing teeth. While a general dentist provides routine care such as cleanings, fillings, and exams, a prosthodontist has advanced training in complex restorative cases involving dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, bite concerns, and full-mouth rehabilitation.

Are prosthodontists expensive?

Prosthodontic treatment can sometimes cost more than routine general dentistry because it often involves advanced planning, specialized materials, and complex restorative care. However, for patients with significant dental needs, a well-planned prosthodontic approach can be a wise long-term investment because it is designed for function, durability, comfort, and stability.

When should you see a prosthodontist?

You should consider seeing a prosthodontist if you have missing teeth, severely damaged teeth, worn teeth, an uncomfortable bite, complex cosmetic concerns, failing restorations, or a need for full-mouth reconstruction. Prosthodontists are especially helpful when multiple issues need to be addressed together.

Do prosthodontists place implants?

Some prosthodontists have surgical training and may place dental implants, but their primary role is often planning and restoring implants. This includes designing the crown, bridge, denture, or full-arch restoration that attaches to the implant and helps the final result look, feel, and function naturally.

Reclaim Your Smile, Reclaim Your Life

If you have been living with missing teeth, worn teeth, damaged restorations, an uncomfortable bite, or a smile that no longer feels like you, specialized prosthodontic care can help. Plaza Pointe Dental Specialists welcomes patients from Mukilteo, Edmonds, Everett, and Lynnwood. Call (425) 215-0001 to schedule your consultation.

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