Healthcare Practitioners
Prosthodontists
Also called: DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), Dental Science Dr (Dental Science Doctor), Denturist, Maxillofacial Prosthodontist
US median pay
$311,180
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
0
1,000 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps.
- Treat facial pain and jaw joint problems.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry5.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Biology3.2/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-doctoral training61%
- Doctoral degree36%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.