Employers

Prosthodontists work for private dental practices and group dental practices. They may own their own dental practice or work as a partner in a group practice. This is an extremely small field, with about 3,500 prosthodontists and prosthodontic residents employed in the United States, according to the American Dental Association. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are only about 490 prosthodontists nationwide.

Starting Out

Prosthodontists get their start while completing their residency after graduation from dental school. They may receive job offers at the practice or medical facility of their residency. They find jobs through their schools career services office. Others find work through professional associations, such as the American College of Prosthodontists, as well as searching job listings posted on Web sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and SimplyHired, among others. 

Prosthodontists advance in their careers by honing their skills and knowledge through continuing education classes and webinars. They grow their practices by increasing the number of patients. They may also advance by going into subspecialties of prosthodontics, such as maxillofacial prosthetics. Those that work as partners in group practices may advance by starting their own practice. Others may teach in colleges, write for dental journals, and lead workshops and speak at conferences hosted by professional associations.

Search for job openings on the American College of Prosthodontists Web site, https://www.prosthodontics.org/classifieds/job-opportunities.

Get involved in a professional association for prosthodontists for access to educational events and networking opportunities. Find information at https://www.prostho.org and https://www.prosthodontics.org.

Learn more about certification exams and requirements for prosthodontists by visiting the American Board of Prosthodontics Web site, https://www.abpros.org/potential-candidates.