What Do Prosthodontists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Prosthodontists 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. They also 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.

Other tasks include:

• Replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent fixtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.
• Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.
• Fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.
• Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury victims, or to individuals with diseases or birth defects.
• Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
• Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.

We asked Prosthodontists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Prosthodontists collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns. They fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.

A typical day for a Prosthodontist will also include:

• 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.
• Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.
• Replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent fixtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.
• Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.
• Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps.

We asked some Prosthodontists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	75% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	68% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Prosthodontists also bleach discolored teeth to brighten and whiten them. They may also place veneers onto teeth to conceal defects.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Prosthodontists Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps. They might also Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.

In addition, they Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury victims, or to individuals with diseases or birth defects.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Treat facial pain and jaw joint problems.

To some Prosthodontists, it is also their responsibility to Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Prosthodontist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/dentists.htm

http://www.ada.org/en/coda

http://www.adea.org/

http://www.gotoapro.org/