Prosthodontists: Job Description
Diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, design, and fit prostheses that maintain oral function, health, and appearance for patients with clinical conditions associated with teeth, oral and maxillofacial tissues, or the jaw.
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The Daily Work of Prosthodontists Take On?
The core tasks performed by prosthodontists span:
- Examine patients to diagnose oral health conditions and diseases.
- Fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.
- Replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent fixtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.
- Measure and take impressions of patients' jaws and teeth to determine the shape and size of dental prostheses, using face bows, dental articulators, recording devices, and other materials.
- Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
- Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.
- Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury survivors, or to individuals with diseases or congenital disabilities.
- Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.
Skills and Knowledge
Top prosthodontists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)
- Dental Science Dr (Dental Science Doctor)
- Denturist
- Maxillofacial Prosthetics Dentist
- Maxillofacial Prosthodontist
- Oral Maxillofacial Prosthodontist
- Prosthetic Dentist
- Prosthodontist
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,866,093 prosthodontists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Prosthodontists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $144,273 |
| Hourly median | $69.36 |
| 10th percentile | $93,885 |
| 25th percentile | $119,079 |
| 75th percentile | $169,467 |
| 90th percentile | $194,662 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Top Industries Employing Prosthodontists
Most prosthodontists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 750 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Prosthodontists Use
- Operating system software: Apple iOS (hot technology)
- Medical software: Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of prosthodontists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Physical Proximity
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Dentists, General (Primary-Short)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Short)
- Orthodontists (Primary-Short)
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for prosthodontists commonly pursue programs in:
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1024.00 (Prosthodontists).
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