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Career Details : Prosthodontists

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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

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    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
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