Career Details :: Prosthodontists
Description
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.
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Tasks
- Designs and fabricates dental prostheses.
- Corrects natural and acquired deformation of mouth and jaws through use of prosthetic appliances.
- Replaces missing teeth and associated oral structures with artificial teeth to improve chewing, speech, and appearance.
- Adjusts prostheses to fit patient.
- Records physiologic position of jaws to determine shape and size of dental prostheses, using face bows, dental articulators, and recording devices.
Related Careers
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dentists, General
- Orthodontists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Surgical Technologists
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Updating & Using Job-Relevant Knowledge
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Indoors
- Job-Required Social Interaction
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.