Career comparison
Dentist vs. Prosthodontist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Prosthodontists earn more at the median ($311,180 vs. $170,950), while dentists usually get to work faster (8 years after high school of training). Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums and the mouth. Prosthodontists restore and replace teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures and implants.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Dentist | Prosthodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $170,950 ($82.19/hr) | $311,180 ($149.61/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $86,250 – $319,630 | $103,510 – $344,750 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.7% (faster than average) | +5.8% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,200 | 0 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 8 years after high school | 11 years after high school |
| Key credential | State dental license | American Board of Prosthodontics certification |
| Work setting | Dentists work in private offices, group practices, clinics, hospitals and public health programs.. | Prosthodontists work in private practices, universities and hospitals.. |
What each job does
Dentist
- Examine teeth, gums and mouth
- Take and read dental X-rays
- Fill cavities and repair teeth
- Place crowns, bridges and implants
- Extract teeth
Prosthodontist
- Plan complex restorations
- Place crowns, bridges and veneers
- Design dentures
- Restore dental implants
- Treat bite and jaw problems
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, hands-on work, indoor work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose dentist if…
- I have steady, skilled hands
- I love science
- I want to own a practice
Choose prosthodontist if…
- I like art and science together
- I enjoy precise hand work
- I want to restore smiles
Still torn? Take the Dentist fit quiz and the Prosthodontist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, dentist or prosthodontist?
Prosthodontists earn more at the median: $311,180 versus $170,950 for dentists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Dentists typically train faster (8 years after high school) than prosthodontists (11 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects prosthodontists to grow +5.8% from 2025–35, compared with +5.7% for dentists.