Prosthodontists
Overview
Introduction
Prosthodontists are dental surgeons who specialize in creating oral prostheses to replace teeth that are missing and correct mouth and jaw deformations. The aim of their work is to help people have normal oral functioning, such as chewing and speaking normally, and to improve the appearance of their teeth. This is an extremely small field: the American Dental Association reported that there were 3,500 prosthodontists and prosthodontic residents working in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are only abo...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Prosthodontists earned an average salary of $176,311 in November 2019, according to PayScale.com. The lowest 10 percent earned $96,000 or less and the top 10 percent earned more than $275,000. The Department of Labor reported that prosthodontists earned a mean annual wage of $220,840 in May 2019. Salaries ranged from $96,060 to $208,000 or more. The top paying state for prosthodontists was Flor...
Work Environment
Prosthodontists work in private practice and group practice offices that are clean, well lit, well organized, and equipped with the latest tools and technologies. Some prosthodontists work with a small staff, while others work in offices where other dentists and dental specialists work. They usually work 40 or more hours per week. They work closely with patients and coworkers, and wear protecti...
Outlook
The prosthodontists field is small but demand is growing for dental prosthesis and other devices to treat dental disorders, diseases, and injuries. A growing number of people are also seeking the expertise of prosthodontists to help improve their appearance through such things as veneers and teeth brightening and whitening. The Department of Labor forecasts employment growth 7 percent for denti...