A prosthesis system comprises plates that can be positioned against
vertebrae and a selected resilient core that can be positioned between
the plates to allow the plates to articulate. The selected resilient core
can be chosen from a plurality of cores in response to patient
characteristics, such as age and/or intervertebral mobility, such that
the prosthesis implanted in the patient is tailored to the needs of the
patient. The plurality of cores may comprise cores with different
resiliencies, and one of the cores can be selected such that the upper
and lower plates articulate with the desired shock absorbing resiliency
and/or maximum angle of inclination when the one selected core is
positioned between the plates.