Prosthodontic study includes patient care and research, but also includes teaching elements with the goal of training future professors in the field.
At the UCLA School of Dentistry Advanced Prosthodontics Residency Program, the specialty involves a three-year commitment and is highly competitive. The largest share of the curriculum is dedicated to patient care, while course work in biomedical issues, prosthodontic literature, formal lectures and diagnostic/treatment seminars are the remaining focus.
The University of Rochester program is similar to the UCLA curriculum and involves the required three years of study. As is the case for all prosthodontics residencies, it meets the standards for the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Board of Prosthodontics.
One-third of the schools course work is allocated to lectures, seminars and research while the bulk of study is committed to clinical treatment and labs.
Although there are differences, all prosthodontics residency curricula involve study in both fixed and removable prosthetics, occlusion or bite, TMJ problems, maxillofacial and cleft palate prosthetics, and the study of implants. In addition, students study advanced and special execution methods necessary for the treatment of complex dental issues that may involve specialists in other areas of medicine. These methods involve health issues where spacing of treatments comes into play.
Following the prosthodontics residency, doctors may elect to continue in a fellowship, which is generally a 12-month program providing even greater concentration in a sub-specialty. At the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the fellowship provides both instructional and clinical experience leading to certification in dental implants and aesthetic surgery. Intensive concentration focuses on prosthetic and surgical aspects of implant dentistry, including fixed and removable partial dentures and maxillofacial prosthetics.