Prosthodontists

What the job really 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.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1024
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Place veneers onto teeth to conceal defects.
• Bleach discolored teeth to brighten and whiten them.

Tools and technology

Apple iOS, Henry Schein Dentrix, Abutment drivers, Adjustable articulators, Air injectors, Anesthetic injectors, Articulating paper forceps, Band pushers, Bending pliers, Bird beak pliers, Boley gauges, Bracket positioning gauges

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Dentists, General
• Orthodontists
• Pediatric Surgeons
• Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
• Dermatologists
• Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
• Dental Hygienists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Prosthodontists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.