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Prosthodontists

Also called: Prosthodontist, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Removable Prosthodontist

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force, Army, or Navy.

What they do:
Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures to correct natural and acquired deformation of mouth and jaws, to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking, and to improve appearance.
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
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
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:

Medical software
  • Henry Schein Dentrix software
  • Planet DDS Denticon
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Image management software

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
doctoral/professional degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$109,300
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about prosthodontists.