Private practice of prosthodontists: current conditions of practice in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to examine data and results from the 2008 Survey of Prosthodontists. Survey results are used to examine current trends and characteristics of prosthodontists in private practice.


METHODS
Characteristics of prosthodontists and conditions of private practice are based on surveys conducted in 2002, 2005, and 2008 sponsored by the American College of Prosthodontists. Survey results are used to estimate several characteristics including age, gender, number of patient visits, hours in the practice, employment of staff, referral sources, and financial conditions (gross receipts, expenses of the practice, and net income of prosthodontists).


RESULTS
The average age of a private-practicing prosthodontist reached 51 years in 2007; 12.3 is the number of years in the current practice; and most prosthodontists (71%) are solo private practitioners. The average amount of time per week by prosthodontists in the practice averaged 36.1 hours, and prosthodontists treated an average of 44.1 patient visits per week. The largest source of patient referrals is the patient themselves. The largest percentage of a prosthodontist's treatment time is spent rendering procedures in fixed prosthodontics, but this percentage has declined since 2001. In 2007, the average gross billings of a practicing prosthodontist reached $805,675; average total practice expenses were $518,255; the mean net earnings of practitioners were $268,930.


CONCLUSIONS
In 2007, prosthodontists in private practice paid out about $1.4 billion in practice expenses to provide $2.2 billion dollars in prosthodontic care. Based on survey results from 2007 and the previous 6 years, specialization in prosthodontic care continues to be an economically attractive and productive healthcare profession in the United States.
Nash
Kent D
KD
Nash and Associates, Millican, TX 77866, USA. kdn_tx@suddenlink.net
Pfeifer
David L
DL
Sadowsky
Steven J
SJ
Carrier
David D
DD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003442:Crowns / Q000191:economics; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000191:economics; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper / Q000191:economics; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000191:economics; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005250:Fees, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010318:Partnership Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D015921:Dental Implants