Prosthodontics chances

[jiataoy]

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Looking into applying for Pros residency this cycle after 4 years Navy and 1 year GP working. Had a few questions and don't know anyone from my graduating class who went Pros.

1. I was around the middle for class rank/GPA. Should I take the ADAT? I've heard most programs don't really care about that test. Planning on applying to the VA programs as well as a few of the expensive programs (NYU, U Pitt etc) as I know I'm not too competitive.

2. Would a Pros rec letter be necessary? I should have some good ones from my past commanders/current boss but I only worked with a Pros prof in dental school 5 years ago so they may not have too much to say about me now. Our Pros billet went unfilled my last year in the Navy so unfortunately couldn't shadow him when I started thinking about specializing.

Thanks everyone.

 

[perioapplicant2026]

GPA probably doesn't matter much for pros. I'd guess that what really matters is do you have good hands? Are you good at doing removable pros, crowns etc.?

 

[jiataoy]

I think I'm pretty good with crowns and bridges, don't really get any complaints about my preps from my labs. And I really enjoy removable. People are always happy to be getting new teeth. Been working at a private practice owned by an older doc who does alot of old school removable on elderly patients and I like that they are usually very appreciative of our work.

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

What are you hoping to gain from prosth residency? When you’re on the other side, what are you hoping to do that you cannot do now as a general dentist?

 

[Balancedocclusion]

Current PGY1 almost PGY2 pros resident here

1. Dont take the ADAT please, not worth it for pros. Just a huge money grab and will take months of studying to actually do well. Only worth it if you get a good score otherwise it can actually harm your chances vs improve them
2. Ideally the pros program director or chair at your school would be best for a letter of rec - maybe you can reach out to schedule a zoom meeting so they can get to know you and ask for a letter that way? From my memory there were a few programs who require one letter to be specifically from a pros faculty member.

Also ACP meetings are a great way to network. ACP Research Symposium is happening in Boston may 8-9 and ACP NY spring meeting April 28, I believe. Tons of program directors and residents are there and trust me that they will remember you, for the good or bad lol

 

[AONLINE]

No offense to prosthodontists, I think they are very knowledgeable, but at my dental school all prosthodontics residents are foreign trained dentists that are doing the residency in order to practice in the US. They could not get any US grads to apply to the residency program.

 

[jiataoy]

What are you hoping to gain from prosth residency? When you’re on the other side, what are you hoping to do that you cannot do now as a general dentist?

I refer to a pros office where he sees one column of patients and has one hygienist and does pretty well. I like doing the work of general dentistry but don't enjoy the hopping between rooms that other successful general dentists seem to like doing, e.g. 2 hygiene 2 treatment chairs. To me it seems like pros might be the way to go in terms of the way I want to work ("general" dentist work, just more complex cases, relatively fewer patients). I know monetarily it'll be a wash at best probably, but money is not as important to me as practicing the way I want.

Current PGY1 almost PGY2 pros resident here

1. Dont take the ADAT please, not worth it for pros. Just a huge money grab and will take months of studying to actually do well. Only worth it if you get a good score otherwise it can actually harm your chances vs improve them
2. Ideally the pros program director or chair at your school would be best for a letter of rec - maybe you can reach out to schedule a zoom meeting so they can get to know you and ask for a letter that way? From my memory there were a few programs who require one letter to be specifically from a pros faculty member.

Also ACP meetings are a great way to network. ACP Research Symposium is happening in Boston may 8-9 and ACP NY spring meeting April 28, I believe. Tons of program directors and residents are there and trust me that they will remember you, for the good or bad lol

Thanks!

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

I refer to a pros office where he sees one column of patients and has one hygienist and does pretty well. I like doing the work of general dentistry but don't enjoy the hopping between rooms that other successful general dentists seem to like doing, e.g. 2 hygiene 2 treatment chairs. To me it seems like pros might be the way to go in terms of the way I want to work ("general" dentist work, just more complex cases, relatively fewer patients). I know monetarily it'll be a wash at best probably, but money is not as important to me as practicing the way I want.

Thanks!

Many prosthodontists do the hopping around room to room, too. It’s not like you get the degree and suddenly get paid well to see a few patients per day. If you want to practice at a slower pace doing more complex cases, that seems to me like you just need to set yourself up in that environment and take CE for things you want to learn. I don’t think the degree is going to necessarily solve your problems. And it’s going to take time and money. Just my little opinion. Wishing you luck, regardless!

 

[perioapplicant2026]

I think most prosthodontists go into the specialty hoping to practice the way you wanna practice. However, most prosthodontists I know don't get to work that way. I have prosthodontist friends who are essentially GPs, some even do endo believe or not. A lot of them have started out at ClearChoice, Nuvia, etc. Also know a prosthodontist who has basically become a "surgical prosthodontist" who does a lot of All-on-X cases (handling both pros and surgery, which is A LOT) in his market. That prosthodontist makes a lot of money and lives large. Prosthodontists are my favorite dentists, and I personally respect the skillset of a lot of prosthodontists. However, the private practice world doesn't seem to reward prosthodontists much. Just my observation.