How To Become A Prosthodontist

A prosthodontist is a dentist that specializes in the restoration and replacement of teeth. There are many reasons a person may need their teeth replaced: either through an accident or trauma, or through disease and poor oral hygiene, or the natural aging process.

A prosthodontist helps a person get their teeth back to a natural beautiful condition. If you love medicine and health care, if you find oral health to be fascinating, and you want to help others, a career as a prosthodontist may be perfect for you.

Why Become A Prosthodontist

Prosthodontics is one of nine specialties within dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association. Prosthodontics deals with the restoration and replacement with teeth. A person who is going to see a prosthodontist is doing so because their teeth have reached the state where they need to be replaced. This may be due to either an accident, a disease, or some other cause.

They examine the state of the teeth, and how severe the damage is. They discuss different treatment options with the patient. Some treatment options may include crowns, bridges, full or partial dentures, or dental implants. A prosthodontist may also do cosmetic procedures such as helping a person obtain a brighter, whiter smile. A prosthodontist will perform the reconstructive dental work. They will also follow up with the patient and educate the patient on how to take better care of their teeth.

A prosthodontist is a health professional who can help people get their teeth looking their best. A beautiful smile is important to people, so a prosthodontist can help people not only gain a nicer smile, but also boost their self-esteem. This is a great career for somebody who loves medicine and health care, is fascinated by oral health, enjoys surgeries and procedures involving the teeth, is compassionate and wants to help people.

Prosthodontists should possess the following qualities and skills:

Knowledgeable
Technical
Hand eye coordination
Interpersonal skills
Loves science
Good communicator
Detail oriented
Problem solver

Prosthodontist Work Environment

Prosthodontists work in an office environment. Some may work in a small office where they may be the only prosthodontist on staff. Others may work in a larger clinic with lots of medical professionals on staff. Somebody who has several years of experience may choose to establish their own practice. In 2014, it was estimated that 25 percent of all dentists were self-employed. Prosthodontists typically work regular hours and are full-time.

Prosthodontist Salary

The median annual salary for a prosthodontist was $159,770 in 2016, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A prosthodontist is a specialized type of doctor. Due to their specialization in their field and the few people practicing this career, prosthodontists command a high salary. There are many years of education required to be a prosthodontist, which contributes to the high salary. Medical professionals such as prosthodontists are required to carry insurance rates which also determine their lucrative salaries.

Average Prosthodontist Annual Salary

$196,960

The average annual salary for prosthodontists is $196,960 a year. Salaries start at $96,220 a year and go up to $208,000 a year.

Average Prosthodontist Hourly Wage

$94.69

The average hourly wage for a prosthodontist is $94.69. Hourly wages are between $46.26 and $100 an hour.

Stats were based out of 430 employed prosthodontists in the United States.

Highest Paying States For Prosthodontists

1. Texas $61.15 / hr $127,190 / yr

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Prosthodontist Career Outlook

The employment for dentists is expected to increase by 18 percent from 2014 to 2024. This is a faster rate than other occupations in the United States. This includes prosthodontists.

Due to recent changes in health care, many people will seek out medical professionals who can help them. More people will start going to the dentist. People may need intensive teeth care. Some people may have lost teeth from not taking good enough care of their teeth. A prosthodontist is needed to help people take better care of their health, assess the condition of their teeth, and provide treatments and surgeries.

Prosthodontist Degree

If you want to become a prosthodontist, read below to find out more information on how.

Step 1: Undergraduate education. If you want to become a prosthodontist, you must receive a bachelor’s degree. There are many programs to choose from, including biology, health sciences, anatomy, pre-medicine, and more. Choose a program that you are interested in. It takes four years to receive your bachelor’s degree.

Step 2: Dental school. You must go to dental school in order to become a dentist. Please be aware that there are certain examinations you must pass, such as the Dental Admission Test, in order to be accepted into dental school. Usually the Dental Admission Test is taken during your junior year of college. Dental school admissions programs can be very competitive. It is important to take courses that will benefit you, get good grades, and do research and internships in your undergraduate years to make yourself competitive. Dental school typically takes four years to complete.

Step 3: Further training. There are nine specialties within the field of dentistry. Within dental school, you will learn more about these specializations. If you love prosthodontics, you can continue your education in this field and specialize in prosthodontics. You will gain hands-on training specifically in prosthodontics and learn how to restore and replace people’s teeth. The training for prosthodontics takes three years.