By Dr. Leila Nikpour, Prosthodontist
Last reviewed by Dr. Leila Nikpour — September 29, 2026
When your smile needs more than routine care — dental implants, a full-arch restoration, or complex cosmetic work — the training behind the treatment shapes the result for decades. A prosthodontist is the dental specialist educated specifically in the restoration and replacement of teeth. At Expert Dental Group in Roseville, Dr. Leila Nikpour brings more than 15 years of dentistry experience and more than 2,500 placed dental implants to every case, each one planned with in-house 3D CBCT imaging.
What is a prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist focused on restoring and replacing teeth. After dental school, prosthodontists complete three or more additional years of residency training in crowns, bridges, dentures, dental implants, and full-mouth rehabilitation. The American Dental Association recognizes prosthodontics as the specialty for complex restorative care.
Prosthodontics is deliberately narrow and deep. Where general dentistry covers the full breadth of oral health, prosthodontics concentrates on reconstruction: designing and delivering the crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures, and implant restorations that rebuild function and appearance. That concentration matters because restorative dentistry is, at its core, an engineering discipline — it draws on materials science, bite mechanics, facial aesthetics, and long-term maintenance planning. A prosthodontist spends three or more years after dental school studying exactly these subjects, treating complex cases under specialist supervision before practicing independently. For patients, the practical meaning is straightforward: when a case involves multiple missing teeth, significant wear, bite problems, or the replacement of failing dental work, a prosthodontist has spent their entire advanced education preparing for it.
How is a prosthodontist different from a general dentist?
A general dentist provides comprehensive primary oral care after dental school — exams, cleanings, fillings, and straightforward restorations. A prosthodontist completes the same dental degree, then adds three or more years of residency devoted entirely to complex restoration: implant planning, full-arch reconstruction, veneers, and full-mouth rehabilitation. The difference is depth of reconstructive training.
The distinction is not about quality — many general dentists deliver excellent everyday care — but about scope and focus. A useful comparison is the relationship between a primary care physician and a surgeon: your general dentist manages your ongoing oral health and refers to a prosthodontist when restoration becomes complex. Referrals from general dentists make up a significant share of prosthodontic practices, precisely because dentists recognize when a case — a full-arch implant plan, a worn dentition needing bite reconstruction, a cosmetic case demanding exacting aesthetics — benefits from specialty-level planning. At Expert Dental Group, Dr. Nikpour works in this specialist role, focusing her practice on the implant, full-arch, and cosmetic cases where advanced training makes the greatest difference.
What treatments does a prosthodontist perform?
Prosthodontists diagnose, plan, and deliver dental implants, full-arch restorations such as All-on-X, porcelain veneers and crowns, complete and partial dentures, and full-mouth rehabilitation. They also correct bite disorders, rebuild severely worn dentition, and repair or replace failing prior dental work with long-term, engineered solutions.
Each of these treatments draws on the same foundation: precise diagnosis, digital planning, and an understanding of how teeth, bite forces, and facial aesthetics interact. Dental implants are planned with 3D imaging to map bone, nerves, and anatomy before treatment begins — at Expert Dental Group, that imaging happens in-house with 3D CBCT. Full-arch restorations like All-on-X replace an entire arch of teeth on a small number of implants and demand exacting surgical and prosthetic coordination. Porcelain veneers and crowns require an eye for proportion, shade, and translucency. Full-mouth rehabilitation — rebuilding every tooth in the mouth — is among the most demanding treatments in dentistry, and it sits squarely within the prosthodontist’s training. Whether the need is a single implant or a complete reconstruction, the prosthodontist’s role is the same: engineer a result that functions naturally and is built to last.
Why does specialty training matter for dental implants and full-arch cases?
Implant and full-arch treatment requires precise bone evaluation, 3D-guided surgical planning, bite design, and a long-term maintenance strategy. A prosthodontist’s residency is built around exactly these disciplines — which is why general dentists routinely refer complex implant and reconstruction cases to prosthodontists for the most predictable, lasting results.
Consider what a full-arch case actually involves. Before treatment, the clinician must evaluate bone volume and quality, the position of nerves and sinuses, the patient’s bite relationship, gum health, and aesthetic goals — then design a surgical and restorative plan that accounts for all of them at once. During treatment, implant positions must be executed within fractions of a millimeter of the plan. After treatment, the bite must be balanced so forces distribute evenly, protecting both the implants and any remaining natural teeth. Every one of these steps is a core subject of prosthodontic residency. Dr. Nikpour’s background adds further depth: a one-year implantology fellowship in France, completed before her prosthodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University, provided dedicated surgical implant training under internationally recognized implant surgeons — followed by 15+ years of specialized practice and more than 2,500 implants placed.
When should you see a prosthodontist instead of a general dentist?
See a prosthodontist when you need dental implants, full-arch restoration, full-mouth rehabilitation, extensive cosmetic dentistry, or correction of failing dental work. If you have been told your case is complex, involves bone loss, or requires rebuilding your bite, a prosthodontist’s advanced training is designed for precisely that situation.
There are also moments when a second opinion from a prosthodontist is simply prudent. If you have been told you are not a candidate for implants because of bone loss, a prosthodontist’s experience with grafting and 3D-guided planning may reveal options a general assessment missed. If a previous crown, bridge, or denture has failed more than once, a specialist’s diagnostic approach can identify the underlying cause — often a bite or planning issue — rather than repeating the same treatment. And if you are considering a significant cosmetic investment such as veneers or a full-arch restoration, a prosthodontist’s training in both aesthetics and long-term function helps ensure the result looks exceptional and endures. No referral is required to schedule directly.
Who is Dr. Leila Nikpour?
Dr. Leila Nikpour is a prosthodontist practicing at Expert Dental Group in Roseville, California. She completed her prosthodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, holds an Honors MS, and completed a one-year implantology fellowship in France before her residency.
She trained under internationally recognized implant surgeons during that fellowship, and brings more than 15 years of dentistry experience and more than 2,500 placed dental implants to her focus on advanced implant dentistry, All-on-X full-arch restoration, and cosmetic reconstruction. Her philosophy is reflected in the practice’s approach: precision dentistry, quietly perfected — treatment planned digitally with in-house 3D CBCT imaging, delivered with prosthodontic precision, and designed to look effortlessly natural.
Prosthodontist credentials and training
Dr. Leila Nikpour completed her prosthodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University, earned an Honors Master of Science, and completed a one-year implantology fellowship in France. With more than 15 years of dentistry experience and over 2,500 dental implants placed, she brings specialty-level training to every implant, crown, veneer, and full-mouth case at Expert Dental Group in Roseville.
Serving Roseville and the greater Sacramento area
Expert Dental Group welcomes patients from Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Folsom, Lincoln, and Sacramento. No referral is needed to see a prosthodontist — call (916) 888-1646 to schedule directly.
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Visit Expert Dental Group in Roseville
Expert Dental Group
5070 Foothills Blvd, Suite 2, Roseville, CA 95747
(916) 888-1646
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Frequently asked questions
Is a prosthodontist better than a general dentist for dental implants?
For complex implant cases, a prosthodontist’s three-plus years of residency training in implant planning, bone assessment, and restoration make prosthodontists the recognized specialists for these treatments. General dentists provide excellent routine and straightforward implant care; prosthodontists are the referral of choice when cases involve bone loss, full-arch restoration, or bite reconstruction.
How long does it take to become a prosthodontist?
Becoming a prosthodontist requires four years of dental school followed by three or more years of specialty residency — a minimum of seven years of training after college. Dr. Nikpour’s path also included an Honors MS and a one-year implantology fellowship in France before her prosthodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University.
Does a prosthodontist do cosmetic dentistry?
Yes. Cosmetic dentistry — porcelain veneers, crowns, and smile rehabilitation — is central to prosthodontic training, which covers the aesthetics of tooth proportion, shade, and translucency alongside function and longevity. At Expert Dental Group, cosmetic cases are planned with the same digital precision as implant reconstructions.
Do I need a referral to see a prosthodontist in Roseville?
No referral is needed. You can schedule directly with Expert Dental Group by calling (916) 888-1646. Many patients come on their own for second opinions, while others are referred by their general dentist for complex implant or reconstructive cases.
What happens at a first visit with a prosthodontist?
Your first visit includes a comprehensive examination, a conversation about your goals and concerns, and — where indicated — 3D CBCT imaging for precise planning. Dr. Nikpour will walk you through your options, the sequencing of treatment, and what to expect, so you can make an informed decision without pressure.
How many dental implants has Dr. Nikpour placed?
Dr. Nikpour has placed more than 2,500 dental implants. That volume means deep experience with complex cases, from single implants to full-arch All-on-X treatment.
What is the difference between a prosthodontist and an implant dentist?
Prosthodontics is an ADA-recognized dental specialty requiring three or more years of post-dental-school residency. “Implant dentist” is not a recognized specialty — any dentist may use the term.
Does Expert Dental Group use 3D imaging for implant planning?
Yes. Our Roseville office has in-house 3D CBCT imaging, so implant placement is planned digitally before your procedure.
Do you treat patients from outside Roseville?
Yes — patients come from Rocklin, Granite Bay, Folsom, Lincoln, and Sacramento. No referral is needed.
What are your office hours?
Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
How do I schedule a prosthodontist consultation in Roseville?
Call (916) 888-1646. We’re at 5070 Foothills Blvd, Suite 2, Roseville, CA 95747, and no referral is required.
Schedule a consultation
No referral needed.
If you are considering implants, full-arch restoration, or complex cosmetic work, a prosthodontist’s evaluation is the right starting point. Contact Expert Dental Group at 5070 Foothills Blvd Suite 2, Roseville, CA 95747, or call (916) 888-1646 to schedule your consultation.