Prosthodontists are highly sought after in the dental field due to their specialized training and expertise. With an average annual salary of a dentist, prosthodontists are paid a good premium compared to general dentists. Prosthodontics is at the heart of dental practice, education and scientific research, offering a rewarding and engaging career with limitless opportunities. Career opportunities include teaching, patient care, research, administration and more.
These opportunities can quickly elevate you to positions of national importance, with the opportunity for travel, personal development and compensated national or international conferences. The term “prosthesis” means replacement and “dontist” means dealing with teeth, so prosthodontists are THE recognized experts when anything in the mouth needs to be replaced. This can range from a single tooth, several teeth, or all of the teeth and gums in the mouth. Prosthodontists must earn a bachelor's degree, complete dental school, and complete a prosthodontic education or residency program. Although you are a general dentist, it gives you a good idea of what the numbers and estimates might look like for prosthodontists.
Prosthodontists receive advanced training to use these techniques in simple and complicated multi-specialty treatment plans. A board-certified prosthodontist has successfully passed a rigorous examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics. With in-depth knowledge of dental laboratory capabilities, prosthodontists can wax intricate whole-mouth restorations. The American College of Prosthodontists is the organization of dentists with advanced specialized training who create optimal oral health, both in function and appearance, including dental implants, dentures, veneers, crowns and teeth whitening. Prosthodontists play a key role in determining what is best for the patient if a complete repair of the arch or the entire mouth is necessary, both in terms of function and appearance. While some of these procedures may be completed by a standard dentist, prosthodontists have specialized education and experience for more complicated cases. The profit margins of owning offices are higher than an associate's pay, so a prosthodontist who owns a practice earns more money even if he has the same education as his non-practicing colleague owner.
Dental schools continue to be in high demand due to the high-income potential of dentists and specialists such as prosthodontists. Choose a prosthodontist because of their advanced education and training, efficiency, and experience with advanced technology. Often, the short-term reimbursement strategy during training may be different from the optimal long-term strategy for practicing prosthodontists.
