Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Dentist
- Family Dentist
- General Dentist
- Pediatric Dentist
Alternate Job Titles
- Dental Medicine Doctor (DMD)
- Dental Officer
- Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS)
- Dentist
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Endodontist
- Family Dentist
- General Dentist
- Pediatric Dentist
- Periodontist
- Public Health Dentist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Finger Dexterity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- Air compressors
- Air/water syringe tips
- Air/water syringes
- Amalgam bands
- Amalgam carriers
- Amalgam condensers
- Amalgam retainers
- Amalgam wells
- Angle dental handpieces
- Angled pliers
- Anterior forceps
- Anterior scalers
- Apex locators
- Articulating paper forceps
- Autoclaves
Work Environment
- 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
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $83,860 |
| Median | $172,790 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 113,490
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Prosthodontists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Orthodontists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Dental Assistants
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $47,300
Pediatric Surgeons
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.