Prosthodontists

tooth disease investigative jaw patient dental prosthesis design information appliance

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Prosthodontist, Removable Prosthodontist

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
  • Replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent fixtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.
  • Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • chemistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Hand and Finger Use

  • put together small parts with your fingers
  • hold or move items with your hands

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Persistence
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Operating system software

  • Apple iOS Hot Technology In Demand

Medical software

  • Henry Schein Dentrix
  • Practice-Web Dental

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Image management software

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
post-doctoral training or
doctoral degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about prosthodontists.