Learn how to become a prosthodontist. Research the job description and the education and licensing requirements to learn how to start a career in prosthodontics. Dentures, dental implants, bridges, crowns, and veneers are among the artificial devices used to restore damaged or missing teeth in prosthodontics.
Prosthodontists also treat traumas, birth deformities, and disorders that produce face anomalies. Due to the efforts of these dentists, patients may have a more appealing appearance and enhanced ability to converse and eat. To protect patients and dentists from infectious diseases, special equipment must be worn.
How To Become a Prosthodontist
Individuals wishing to specialize in prosthodontics must graduate from dental school plus complete a post-graduate residency program in prosthodontics. Licensing is required for dentists in all states. Some states mandate a specialized license to practice a dental specialty. Prosthodontists may voluntarily seek board certification in their specialty through the American Board of Prosthodontics (ABP).
Prosthodontists should have manual dexterity, strong attention to detail, and good communications skills. They should also have familiarity with dental and imaging management software and the ability to use a wide range of dental pliers, gauges, impression trays, and other dental instruments. According to 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for prosthodontists was $176,540 per year.
Career Requirements
- Degree Level: Doctoral degree plus residency
- Degree Fields: Dentistry, prosthodontics
- Licensure and Certification: Licensure required in all states for dentists; some states require a license to practice a dental specialty; the American Board of Prosthodontics (ABP) awards voluntary certification to qualified applicants
- Key Skills: Manual dexterity; proficiency in communications and strong attention to detail; familiarity with dental and imaging management software; ability to use a wide range of dental pliers, gauges, impression trays and other dental instruments
- Salary: $176,540 (2018 median for prosthodontists)
Steps to Become a Prosthodontist
1.Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
While dental schools do not need prospective students to have studied a certain major, students who major in a science, like a biology, will have a better chance of being accepted. Aspiring dentists must complete certain undergraduate science courses that the dental school requires they wish to attend. Biology, physics, psychology, and English are among the pre-dental subjects available.
2.Take the Dental Admission Test
Before applying to dental school, students must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) for at least one year. The Dental Admission Test comprises four multiple-choice questions that span natural sciences, reading comprehension, perceptual skills, and numerical thinking. This test is overseen by the American Dental Association (ADA), and it is one of the variables that dental schools use when deciding which students to accept.
3.Graduate from Dental School
Dental school is a four-year curriculum that prepares students to become Doctors of Dental Surgery or Doctors of Dental Medicine. Dental materials, mouth disease diagnosis, and pharmacology may be included in craniofacial biology, dental anatomy, and epidemiology. Students receive practical experience while in dentistry school by working on patients under the supervision of experienced dentists.
4.Get Licensed
Dentists must have a license in each state. The National Board Dental Examinations must be passed in both parts by all dentists. The qualifications for licensure vary by state, but they commonly involve graduation from a recognized dentistry program and passing written and clinical exams. Dentists who desire to specialize in a dentistry sub-field in several states must first receive a license for that specialty.
5.Complete Residency Training
A three-year post-doctoral residency program in prosthodontics provides students with hands-on training in procedures such as oral restoration, dental implant therapy, and surgical patient care. In prosthodontic residency programs, clinical and technical skills are honed, which emphasize diagnostics, anatomy, biostatistics, pathology, oncology, oral prosthetic devices, and oral biology. Residency programs may contain lectures and research requirements in addition to clinical practice.
6.Obtain Certification
Although prosthodontists are not required to be board-certified, many prefer to do so through the American Board of Prosthodontics. A four-part examination, consisting of one written test and three oral tests, is required of applicants. To get re-certified every eight years,
prosthodontists must keep up with innovations in the discipline. Voluntary certificates can aid prospective prosthodontists with job chances and career advancement by impressing potential employers. After earning a bachelor’s degree in science, aspiring prosthodontists must complete dental school, obtain a professional license, and complete a 3-year residency program in prosthodontics.
