Healthcare practitioners
Dentist
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.
Median pay
$170,950
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
4,200
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Dentist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- DAT · INBDE board exam · Clinical licensing exam · State dental license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Dentist: 0% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- 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.
- Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
- Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
- Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
Also called: DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor) · Dentist · DMD (Dental Medicine Doctor) · Endodontist · Family Dentist · General Dentist · Pediatric Dentist · Pedodontist
Outlook and AI
Dentists held 141,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 150,000 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Dentist vs. Family doctor
- Dentist vs. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Dentist vs. Prosthodontist
- Dentist vs. Orthodontist
- Dentist vs. Dental assistant
- Dentist vs. Pediatric surgeon
- Dentist vs. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Dentist vs. Dental hygienist
- Dentist vs. Dermatologist
- Dentist vs. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Dentist vs. Physician (other specialties)