Some dental cases don’t have straightforward answers. A patient might be missing several teeth, dealing with jaw dysfunction, or facing the kind of structural damage that requires more than a standard filling or crown. These are the cases that often get referred to a specialist, and in Missoula, Montana, many of them end up at Meng Dentistry with Dr. Joe Meng.
What a Prosthodontist Actually Does
Meng is a board-certified prosthodontist, a dental specialty focused on the reconstruction and replacement of teeth. Where a general dentist handles routine care, a prosthodontist steps in when the work becomes more involved. Think full-mouth reconstruction, dental implants for patients with significant bone loss, or maxillofacial prosthetics for individuals who have lost facial structures due to surgery or trauma.
It is a small specialty. Prosthodontists make up a fraction of all practicing dentists in the United States. Meng completed a three-year specialty certificate program in prosthodontics and earned a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics in 2013, a credential that requires passing rigorous written and clinical examinations.
Training That Spans Continents
Before settling in Missoula, Meng built his clinical foundation across a wide range of settings. He completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2006, then moved to Dallas for his advanced prosthodontic training. During that period, he completed rotations at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Universities of Geneva and Bern in Switzerland.
Each of those environments presented different patient populations and clinical challenges. Pediatric cases at a children’s hospital look nothing like the reconstructive needs of a veteran, and European training programs bring their own protocols and philosophies. That variety gave Meng a broad frame of reference he still draws on today.
Beyond Implants
While dental implants are a significant part of his practice, Meng’s work extends into areas that many patients may not immediately associate with dentistry. He treats TMJ dysfunction, a condition affecting the jaw joint that can cause chronic pain, difficulty chewing, and headaches. He also manages sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy, an alternative to CPAP machines that works by repositioning the jaw during sleep to keep the airway open.
Maxillofacial prosthetics is another area of his expertise. This involves creating custom prosthetic devices for patients who have lost portions of their face or jaw, often due to cancer treatment or traumatic injury. It is highly specialized work that requires both surgical precision and an understanding of how form and function intersect.
Giving Back to Montana’s Dental Community
Meng has stayed active in organized dentistry throughout his career. He served as 2nd District president of the Montana Dental Association from 2013 to 2014 and sat on the association’s Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019. He has also volunteered with the Dental Lifeline Network’s Montana Donated Dental Services program since 2010, providing care to patients who cannot afford treatment on their own.
From 2015 to 2021, he served as clinical dental director for Special Olympics Montana Smiles, coordinating dental screenings and care for athletes with intellectual disabilities. He continues to present research and clinical cases at symposiums, and he has authored publications in peer-reviewed dental journals.
A Family Practice in Every Sense
Meng Dentistry is a family operation. Joe’s wife, Dr. Minde Meng, practices general dentistry at the same office, and his father, Dr. Graham Meng, is also a board-certified prosthodontist on the team. Outside the clinic, Joe and Minde are raising two sons, Fletcher and Wyatt, and spend their free time outdoors whenever Montana’s seasons allow it.
