The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine types of dental specialists, each requiring board certification or eligibility to practice. The specialists include orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, pediatric dentists, periodontists, prosthodontists, endodontists, public-health dentists, oral pathologists, and oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

Unknown to many dental patients, cosmetic dentistry, arguably the fastest growing subset of dentistry today, is not recognized by the ADA as an accredited dental specialty. Thus, any dentist can call himself or herself a cosmetic dentist. In the eyes of the ADA, nothing separates cosmetic dentists from general practitioners.

The real cosmetic dentists are prosthodontists, boasting specialized training in restoring, replacing, and shaping teeth, literally bringing smiles to millions of patients worldwide.

To receive certification from the ADA, prosthodontist candidates must complete four years of dental school, followed by an additional three years of training in a graduate education program of prosthodontics accredited by the ADA.

Requiring yet more training, a maxillofacial prosthodontist provides true cosmetic dentistry solutions. Maxillofacial prosthodontists are experts in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, as well as in complex prosthetic facial reconstruction.

Because of their superior training and experience, maxillofacial prosthodontists tend to receive patient referrals from other dentists who understand the benefits of being treated by a qualified dental specialist.

Dr. Michael Cortese, the Director of Princeton Prosthodontics, is one of only 350 maxillofacial prosthodontists worldwide. He is uniquely skilled in the advanced disciplines of facial reconstruction, as well as in the restoration and replacement of teeth.