Dentists are an indispensable part of the medical field, ensuring patients receive proper and professional oral health care. With dental procedures being a crucial part of our entire lifespan, these professionals must be well-versed in caring for both pediatric and senior patients visiting for myriad reasons. As of 2015, the American Dental Association reported nearly 196,000 dentists were practicing throughout the country, with projections showing more than 26,000 roles will be added in the coming years. Individuals who are prepared to complete an extensive education and learn the tools and technologies of the trade should enjoy fulfilling, busy careers. Learn the steps to becoming a licensed dentist and what a dentist career entails.
What Does a Dentist Do?
[dig-deeper subtitle="Dentist Career Basics" description="Tasked with deliveringsafe and effective dental care to patients, dentists are specializedprofessionals who diagnose and provide treatments for a variety of oral healthissues. These professionals are required to complete a supplementary four yearsof training in addition to undergraduate coursework, making them highlyqualified for the role. They may work in general dentistry or concentrate theirknowledge and skills in areas of orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery,periodontics or endodontics. Whether opening their own practice or working witha team of dentistry professionals, dentists also frequently oversee the work ofothers in the office, including dental hygienists and assistants."panel_subtitle="Dentist Careers In-Depth" ]
Dentists are required to complete rigorous educations and live up to high standards, and for good reason: Whether administering local anesthetics, removing cavities from teeth, reviewing x-rays and deciding a course of action, or fitting patients with prosthetics, patients entrust dentists with their oral health and wellbeing. While the pressure can be great, dentists also enjoy the benefits of their hard and exacting work. The average salary for dentists in 2015 topped $158,310, while those with years of experience can expect to earn even more.
[/dig-deeper]Dentist Salaries
When choosing the right career, it is important to understand what you can expect to make when you enter the profession. Those who choose to become dentists often do so not only because they want to help people, but because it is a career with a reputation for high salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dentists made a median annual wage of $152,700 in 2015. The top 10 percent of dentists made greater than $187,200 per year. Those who choose to specialize might make even more.
The map below shows details of the 10th, 50th and 90th percentile earners for each state.
