What You'll Do

  • Fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.
  • Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.
  • 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.
  • Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
  • Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.
  • Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury survivors, or to individuals with diseases or congenital disabilities.
  • Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps.
  • Treat facial pain and jaw joint problems.
  • Place veneers onto teeth to conceal defects.
  • Bleach discolored teeth to brighten and whiten them.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.62/5
Monitoring 3.62/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.62/5
Writing 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Time Management 3.25/5
Instructing 3.12/5
Service Orientation 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Integrity, Dependability, Achievement/Effort, Analytical Thinking

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 4.12/5
Near Vision 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Finger Dexterity 3.88/5
Written Comprehension 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Apple iOS Consult-PRO Henry Schein DentalVision Professional Henry Schein Dentrix Henry Schein Easy Dental Image management software Kea Software impDAT Kodak Dental Systems Kodak PRACTICEWORKS Practice management software PMS Materialise Dental SimPLANT Materialise Dental SurgiGuide Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft Perio charting software Planet DDS Denticon Practice-Web Dental

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.84/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.73/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.64/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.55/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.54/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) Dental Science Dr (Dental Science Doctor) Denturist Maxillofacial Prosthetics Dentist Maxillofacial Prosthodontist Oral Maxillofacial Prosthodontist Prosthetic Dentist Prosthodontist Reconstructive Dentist Removable Prosthodontist Restorative Dentist