If you don’t know what a prosthodontist is you’re not alone. The husband and wife team of Dr. Giuliana Diaz Jones and Dr. Adam Jones at newly-opened Vero Implant and Esthetic Dentistry say they are asked that question almost every day.
A simple description might be “a dentist on steroids” or, as the University of Michigan’s Dental School puts it, “Prosthodontists are the quarterbacks of dental treatment plans.”
One of nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, prosthodontists are pretty much the top of the dental food chain. Becoming a prosthodontist not only requires a traditional four-year dental degree but also an intense three additional years of postgraduate work. That may explain, at least in part, why the ADA says there are approximately 170,000 general dentists in this country but only 3,200 prosthodontists.
In any event, both Drs. Jones say they can provide their patients just about every dental service imaginable, from simple exams and cleanings to complex tooth replacement or implant procedures all in the same practice. A “mission statement” hangs on the walls of their sleek and inviting new office in Oak Point Center on Highway A1A, but Giuliana Jones simply says their aim is “to provide the best care using the best materials.”
The soft-spoken Adam Jones says they had something of an obstacle to overcome when they opened their practice. Many people, he admits, mistook the “esthetic” in the practice’s name to mean that he and his wife only did cosmetic work. He says he’s glad they now are starting to see more and more patients for general dentistry, as well as those with more complex problems.
Some of those more complex problems include dental implants, custom-made complete and removable partials and dentures, replacing lost teeth, dealing with the special needs of geriatric patients, treating children born with cleft palates or missing teeth, custom-building prosthetics as well as dealing with sleep disorders such as apnea and excessive snoring.
While the esthetic aspects of the Jones’ practice might seem frivolous to some, nothing could be further from the truth. The loss of natural teeth, whether due to an accident, a fall, years of skipped dental appointments or as part of the natural aging process, can actually be quite traumatic. Simply going out to eat with friends, for example, can become a source of stress or embarrassment. “We don’t want people to think they have to go through the rest of their lives with missing or damaged teeth,” Adam Jones explains, “because they don’t.”
Of course, like all dentists, both doctors Jones lament the fact that so many people do wait too long between dental visits. “Many times,” according to Giuliana Jones, “people don’t perceive they have a problem with their teeth until it’s too late” for simple solutions. That kind of all-too-common delay can end up costing the patient much more in the long run.
Adam Jones makes an analogy about dental care and your car. “You probably change the oil in your car every six months or so because if you don’t and the engine dies, you have a much bigger expense. That’s why I like to see most of my patients every six months to avoid expensive repairs.”
To further help avoid expensive repairs, the doctors Jones have packed their offices with the latest, most patient-friendly equipment available including 3-D imaging and the Phillips “ZOOM” tooth-whitening machine. “It can make your teeth six to eight shades whiter or lighter,” explains Adam Jones, “in just 90 minutes.” With the holidays here, Jones says more and more people are coming in for a brighter smile.
When asked why they chose to open their practice here in Vero Beach, Adam Jones has a ready reply. With his wife and their baby daughter, Ana Gabriella, looking on, the Lake Wales native says his family used to vacation here when he was growing up and that he fell in love with the town. Giuliana Jones adds they both thought this was the ideal place to raise their family, in part because of how nice the people are. “Wherever we go,” Adam says, “people are always so friendly.”
Aside from their medical skills, the doctors Jones are also accomplished lecturers. In fact, Adam met his bride-to-be when she delivered a lecture in Clearwater, FL and just a week ago he returned from a speaking engagement in Denver, CO addressing the International Team of Implantology.
Starting in December, the two will be offering monthly seminars on dental care at their Vero Beach offices. They invite anyone interested to call for details.
Dr. Giuliana Diaz Jones, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, completed her residency in prosthodontics at Nova Southeastern University in 2012 after which she pursued a fellowship in implantology at the University Of Florida College Of Dentistry. Dr. Adam Jones received his doctoral degree from the University of Florida and in 2014 he obtained both his master degree and his certificate specializing in prosthodontics. He is an internationally published author on implant esthetics.
Vero Implant and Esthetic Dentistry is at 5070 Highway A1A in the Oak Point Center. 772-234-5353.
