What You Need to Know About Dentists

Example of a Dentist Job 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.

Daily Life Of a Dentist

• Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
• Apply fluoride or sealants to teeth.
• Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
• Analyze or evaluate dental needs to determine changes or trends in patterns of dental disease.
• Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
• Bleach, clean, or polish teeth to restore natural color.

What a Dentist Should Know

These are the skills Dentists say are the most useful in their careers:

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Dentist Jobs

• Associate Dentist
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Dentist
• Treatment Coordinator
• Dentist/Owner

Job Demand for Dentists

There were about 132,800 jobs for Dentists, General in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.4% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,700 new jobs for Dentists by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,400 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Dentists, General are California, Texas, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Rhode Island, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Dentist Salary

The typical yearly salary for Dentists, General is somewhere between $72,810 and $208,000. A Dentist median salary is $151,850.

How much do Dentists, General make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Delaware	$264,440
Alaska	$259,350
Rhode Island	$254,190
Minnesota	$227,280
New Hampshire	$226,300
Connecticut	$213,390
Wisconsin	$213,210
North Dakota	$212,380
North Carolina	$212,160
Nevada	$210,710
Maine	$203,920
Virginia	$199,870
South Dakota	$198,170
Michigan	$197,490
Ohio	$197,150
Hawaii	$196,690
Missouri	$191,240
Oregon	$190,690
Iowa	$187,570
Arizona	$186,870
Tennessee	$186,670
Texas	$185,680
Washington	$184,780
Indiana	$183,800
District of Columbia	$183,630
Kansas	$179,100
Massachusetts	$177,410
Georgia	$176,600
Colorado	$174,930
New Mexico	$173,610
South Carolina	$172,780
Idaho	$172,020
Alabama	$171,900
Illinois	$171,590
Montana	$170,260
New Jersey	$169,990
Florida	$167,270
Arkansas	$165,480
New York	$164,520
Oklahoma	$156,060
Kentucky	$154,230
Pennsylvania	$153,950
Mississippi	$153,810
Maryland	$151,950
California	$151,490
West Virginia	$139,170
Utah	$138,970
Nebraska	$135,080
Wyoming	$125,120
Louisiana	$124,020

Tools & Technologies Used by Dentists

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Dentists may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel

How do I Become a Dentist?

What education is needed to be a Dentist?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Dentists Work?

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons