Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures to correct natural and acquired deformation of mouth and jaws, to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking, and to improve appearance.
U.S. Workers
760
10-Year Growth
+4.5%
Annual Openings
0
Typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
11 of 11 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Design and fabricate dental prostheses, or supervise dental technicians and laboratory bench workers who construct the devices.
AI: Fully automatable - CAD/CAM, AI-driven design tools, and automated milling/3D printing already enable end-to-end design and fabrication of many dental prostheses, allowing full automation of this task in standard cases.
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.
AI: Partial - Digital intraoral scanners and software automate much of the measurement and capture workflow, but physical instrument positioning, complex articulator transfers, and chairside handling still require human operators.
Replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent fixtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.
AI: Partial - AI and CAD/CAM can design and manufacture many prostheses and assist with treatment planning, but the surgical placement of implants and complex clinical decision-making and hands‑on procedures are not fully automatable by 2025.
Fit prostheses to patients, making any necessary adjustments and modifications.
AI: Partial - AI can predict fit issues and guide adjustments and labs, but the tactile, in‑mouth fitting and real‑time modifications still require human clinicians.
Restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury victims, or to individuals with diseases or birth defects.
AI: Partial - AI can support planning, simulation, and prosthetic design for complex reconstructions, but comprehensive restoration of function and aesthetics for trauma, disease, or birth defects requires multidisciplinary surgical and clinical work that is not fully automatable.
Collaborate with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.
AI: Partial - AI can synthesize records, propose multidisciplinary plans, and facilitate communication, but true collaborative decision‑making and responsibility among clinicians cannot be fully automated.
Repair, reline, or rebase dentures.
AI: Partial - Laboratory automation can handle many repair and reline processes, yet chairside relines, individualized adjustments, and some repairs still depend on human technicians and clinicians.
Place veneers onto teeth to conceal defects.
AI: Partial - AI and CAD/CAM can design and mill veneers and guide treatment, but the clinical preparation, bonding technique, and final placement require skilled clinician hands and judgment.
Use bonding technology on the surface of the teeth to change tooth shape or to close gaps.
AI: Partial - AI can plan bonding-based cosmetic changes and assist with material selection and guidance, but the manual application, isolation, and clinical execution of bonding procedures remain human tasks.
Treat facial pain and jaw joint problems.
AI: Partial - AI can assist with diagnosis and treatment planning for facial pain and temporomandibular disorders but cannot perform hands‑on interventions or assume clinical responsibility.
Bleach discolored teeth to brighten and whiten them.
AI: Partial - AI can recommend bleaching protocols and help control devices, but in‑office tooth‑bleaching requires trained clinicians and management of intraoral risks that AI cannot fully autonomously handle.