Prosthodontists

Also called: Doctor of Dental Science, Prosthodontist, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Maxillofacial Prosthetics Dentist, Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Oral Maxillofacial Prosthodontist

Prosthodontists

Varies

estimated salary

Prosthodontists 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.

  • 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.
  • Fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.
  • Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury victims, or to individuals with diseases or birth defects.
  • Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
  • Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.
  • Place veneers onto teeth to conceal defects.
  • Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps.
  • Treat facial pain and jaw joint problems.
  • Bleach discolored teeth to brighten and whiten them.
Work Context
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 100% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 98% responded "Extremely important".
  • Physical Proximity — 92% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 91% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 98% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Adjust dental devices or appliances to ensure fit.
  • Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.
  • Design medical devices or appliances.
  • Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
  • Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
  • Adjust dental devices or appliances to ensure fit.
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Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • Henry Schein Dentrix Hot Technology
  • Consult-PRO
  • Planet DDS Denticon
  • Perio charting software
  • Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
  • Materialise Dental SurgiGuide
  • Materialise Dental SimPLANT
  • Kodak Dental Systems Kodak PRACTICEWORKS Practice management software PMS
  • Kea Software impDAT
  • Henry Schein Easy Dental
  • Henry Schein DentalVision Professional
  • Practice-Web Dental
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Image management software