Prosthodontists: Salary Overview
Prosthodontists construct prostheses and other oral structures to replace missing teeth and to correct the deformation of the mouth and jaws.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for this profession was $220,840 but salaries vary widely depending on the region, the prosthodontist’ level of experience, and a variety of other factors.
The same report shows that 90% of all prosthodontists earned more than $96,060, so this profession is well-remunerated.
However, prosthodontists are required to graduate from dental school which can be quite expensive and typically leaves entry-level prosthodontists with massive loans to pay off during their first years of practice.
Compared to general dentists- who can practice right after finishing dental school, future prosthodontics also have to complete a post-graduate residency program in prosthodontics which lasts 3-4 years.
According to glossadoor.com, the average base salary for prosthodontics residents was $46,962 a year, this is only a fraction of what a licensed prosthodontist makes.
Student loan repayment is typically calculated based on the dentist’s income so it may take a dentist around 20-25 years to repay the debt.
Depending on the repayment plan, prosthodontists may spend anywhere between $1,000 and more than $3,000 a month in student loan repayments.
Prosthodontist Salary by Industry
According to the Supply of Dentists in the U.S.:2001-2019 report published by the American Dental Association, there were 3,739 prosthodontists in the United States in 2019.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 400 out of 490 salaried prosthodontists worked in the offices of dentists.
The mean hourly wage for prosthodontists employed in offices of dentists was $110.40 summing up to an annual mean wage of $229,630.
Many prosthodontists own their own practice.
According to a report published by the American Dental Association, in 2018 specialist dentists who owned their own dental practice alone earned $340,250 a year while non-solo dental practice owners made, on average $378,230.
Prosthodontists in private practice, earned, on average, $233,550 a year during that same period, which is more than the average reported for this profession.
In conclusion, as a prosthodontist, you may earn more by partnering with another dentist in a dental practice than by being employed.
However, owning your own business means additional responsibilities and expenses.
The report published by the American Dental Association shows that the average gross billings for owner prosthodontists in private practice was $892,610 in 2018.
They also have to cover expenses that can sum up to more than $500,000-$600,000 a year depending on the practice location, the number of employees, and a variety of other factors.
If you want to start your own dental practice you may first need a few years of experience and being employed at an established dental practice can help you gain that experience and build a reputation.
The same report shows that the median annual net income of prosthodontists was $195,000 in 2018
The net annual income shows how much the prosthodontist takes home after taxes and other payroll deductions.
The net income for prosthodontists was lower than the net income for other dentistry specialists; the report also shows that prosthodontists made $210,000 a year in 2017 which means that their earnings actually declined in 2018.
Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for prosthodontists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
The demand for dental services, in general, is projected to grow as more people become aware of the studies that show a correlation between oral health hand overall health.
Job prospects for prosthodontists are projected to be good, especially for those who are willing to relocate to underserved areas.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Prosthodontists. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.