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
What Tasks Do Dentists, General Take On?
Typical responsibilities of dentists, general span:
- 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
Top dentists, general rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Dental Medicine Doctor (DMD)
- Dental Officer
- Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS)
- Dentist
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Endodontist
- Family Dentist
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 2,918,524 dentists, general working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.1% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Dentists, General Make?
| 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for dentists, general vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Dentists, General
The bulk of dentists, general work in 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
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)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions 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 occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Short)
- Orthodontists (Primary-Short)
- Prosthodontists (Primary-Short)
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future dentists, general commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 2 majors
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes 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).
GradDegree.com 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.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.