Dentists, General: Job Description
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Dentists, General Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of dentists, general cover:
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
- Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
- Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
- Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
What Dentists, General Need to Know
Effective dentists, general draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Dentists, General Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Dental Medicine Doctor (DMD)
- Dental Officer
- Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS)
- Dentist
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Endodontist
- Family Dentist
How Many Dentists, General Are There?
The U.S. employs around 2,918,524 dentists, general working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +1.1% over the projection horizon.
Dentists, General Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $157,602 |
| Hourly median | $75.77 |
| 10th percentile | $100,997 |
| 25th percentile | $129,300 |
| 75th percentile | $185,904 |
| 90th percentile | $214,206 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Dentists, General Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $230,990 |
| Alaska | $230,830 |
| Delaware | $224,690 |
| Minnesota | $209,820 |
| Maine | $208,860 |
| Arizona | $206,660 |
| Wisconsin | $206,650 |
| North Dakota | $201,280 |
| Washington | $197,950 |
| Georgia | $195,820 |
| Connecticut | $193,230 |
| North Carolina | $191,280 |
| Maryland | $189,330 |
| Oregon | $185,790 |
| Virginia | $182,570 |
| Illinois | $180,420 |
| Louisiana | $179,600 |
| California | $178,540 |
| Michigan | $177,080 |
| Indiana | $176,990 |
| Iowa | $174,990 |
| Arkansas | $172,490 |
| New Mexico | $171,730 |
| Kansas | $170,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $168,740 |
| Nebraska | $168,110 |
| Idaho | $166,560 |
| New York | $164,060 |
| Florida | $162,870 |
| South Dakota | $162,860 |
| New Hampshire | $162,040 |
| Oklahoma | $161,780 |
| New Jersey | $159,860 |
| Montana | $159,480 |
| South Carolina | $158,460 |
| Texas | $157,370 |
| Ohio | $155,570 |
| Tennessee | $154,460 |
| West Virginia | $147,440 |
| Hawaii | $139,990 |
| Colorado | $136,260 |
| Kentucky | $135,550 |
| Utah | $132,270 |
| Mississippi | $128,570 |
| Wyoming | $126,860 |
| Nevada | $125,180 |
| Puerto Rico | $89,650 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for dentists, general vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $193,564 | 2.7% | 1.28 |
| Far Western US | $178,772 | 19.1% | 1.10 |
| Great Lakes | $178,008 | 15.1% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $172,000 | 25.6% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $170,159 | 11.4% | 0.90 |
| Middle Atlantic | $165,293 | 14.9% | 0.96 |
| Rocky Mountains | $142,183 | 4.1% | 1.04 |
| Plains States | $140,544 | 7.1% | 1.02 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $233,910 | 140 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | FL | $233,590 | 470 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | OR | $230,710 | 80 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | CA | $228,700 | 60 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $223,320 | 220 |
| Sheboygan, WI | WI | $221,160 | 70 |
| Johnson City, TN | TN | $217,760 | 60 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $214,490 | 1,900 |
Top Industries Employing Dentists, General
The bulk of dentists, general are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 110,890 | $172,570 |
| Educational Services | 560 | $176,730 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 350 | $163,640 |
| Manufacturing | 140 | $216,090 |
| Finance and Insurance | 140 | $178,890 |
Dentists, General work in the following industries:
Software Dentists, General Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for dentists, general tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Getting Started in This Career
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Short)
- Orthodontists (Primary-Short)
- Prosthodontists (Primary-Short)
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for dentists, general typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 2 majors
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.