Dentist Careers Information
Dentists are the doctors of the mouth. They write prescriptions, review patients after a cleaning, insert fillings, diagnose and treat various diseases and conditions, perform and analyze x-rays and other tests, and advise patients and families. The dental field also includes specializations, such as Orthodontics and Oral Surgery.
Dentist Careers & Degrees
- American Career Institute: Braintree
Lincoln College of Technology: West Palm Beach
Concorde Career Institute: Jacksonville
Dentists often work in small private practices, many of which they own themselves, or in concert with a small number of other dentists. They supervise the other individuals in a dental practice, usually dental hygienists, dental assistants, and administrative staff.
Dentist Careers Path
Like doctors and “pre-med” courses, dentists must complete “pre-dental” coursework as part of their undergraduate programs. Oftentimes, aspiring dentists major in a science such as biology or chemistry. In order to gain admission to dental school, students must take the Dental Admissions Test, or DAT.
Like medical schools, dental schools are often very exclusive, and admissions can be highly selective. Dental schools look at undergraduate GPA, difficulty of coursework, DAT test scores, letters of recommendation, and other factors in making admissions decisions.
Following graduation, newly-minted dentists must pass the National Board Dental Examinations, as well as complete any additional examinations required for by their state. Following that, new dentists either work as associates at established offices or begin their own practices.
Dentist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Trustworthy, caring, observant, knowledgeable, steady-handed, consistent, dependable, careful, charismatic, patient.
Dentist Careers: Salary Expectations
Given the relatively short amount of time needed to obtain what is still a professional degree, not to mention their very reasonable working hours, dentists earn extremely competitive wages. According to the Department of Labor, the median annual salary for dentists is $142,870. Benefits are excellent, and as a private practice grows, possibilities for earnings grow as well.
Dentist Careers: Job Outlook
The Department of Labor anticipates that the dental industry will grow about as fast as the US economy as a whole-9% by 2016. This can seem surprising-after all, the dental industry as a whole is projected to grow at a far faster rate. However, new advances in medical technology mean that much of the new employment in the dental industry will involve dental hygienists and dental technicians.
Slightly Off the Footpath
- Licensed Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Lab Technician
- Physical Therapist
Sources: bls.gov/oes/current/oes291021.htm; bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm
