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Dentistry Outcomes & Career Options

Outcomes & Career Options

The American Dental Association reports that there are more than 153,000 dentists active in the United States. Most are in private practice and remain general practitioners. Women and minorities are underrepresented in the profession. Opportunities for these underrepresented groups are growing rapidly because of the intense need to improve access to general health and oral care. The field of dentistry is expected to grow as a result of the aging baby boomers. There are opportunities for dental research, forensic dentistry, academic dentistry, service in the federal government, and in international health care. Jobs in the field of dentistry are expected to grow by 28% through the year 2014.

Educational Qualifications

Most dental school applicants have earned a four-year degree prior to entering dental school. Dentistry is a four-year program, with the first two years in the classroom and dental lab and the last two years in the clinic treating patients under the supervision of licensed dentists. 

Job Outlook

Dentists need to have good visual memory, excellent judgment of space and shape, a high degree of manual dexterity and scientific ability. Many dentists have their own practice, therefore s good business acumen, self discipline, and good communication skills are essential for success.

 


4% Job Market Growth

$170,910 Median Salary

 

Entering Salary

The median annual wage for dentists was $170,910 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $82,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.

Median annual wages for dentists in May 2023 were as follows:

  • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons $239,200 or more
  • Orthodontists $239,200 or more
  • Prosthodontists $234,000
  • Dentists, all other specialists $227,690
  • Dentists, general $166,300

Partial information in this page was retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm (visited April 17, 2024).

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