Dentists perform a variety of dental procedures to diagnose and treat conditions of the mouth and teeth. General tasks include examining x-rays, filling cavities, straightening teeth, repairing teeth, extracting teeth, and creating model teeth or dentures. Dentists also perform surgical procedures such as implants to replace missing teeth, and tissue grafts to treat gum disease. Dentists may be general practitioners that handle a variety of needs, or specialists that treat in one of the nine recognized dental specialties. Dentists typically work in offices, while some work in hospitals or for government agencies.

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Dentist Salary

Overall, dentist salaries are based on type of employment, location, hours worked, and specialty.

According to Salary.com, the current median expected salary for a typical Dentist in the United States is $119,405.

A recent survey by the American Dental Association showed that a self-employed general practitioner dentist with a private practice had an average annual earnings of $177,340. A dental specialist with a private practice reported much higher earnings of $300,200.

Dentists generally work more hours when starting a practice, and work fewer hours once the practice is established. Dentists typically work 4 to 5 days a week, or 35 to 40 hours and sometimes night and weekends to suit patient�s needs.

Salary.com also showed a range of salaries depending on specialty. For example, the median salary of Orthodontists is $112,756, while the median salary for Oral Surgeons is $177,200.

Dentist Job Outlook

A recent survey by the US Department of Labor indicates that approximately 150,000 jobs were held by dentists, with 128,000 of those jobs held by general practitioners and the rest held by specialists.

Employment opportunities for dentists are expected to grow as fast as the national average through 2014. The job growth is a result of the need to replace retiring dentists, and therefore, new dentists will have the opportunity to take over existing practices.

The aging baby boomer population is also expected to contribute to dentist job growth, as elderly populations require more complicated dental work such as bridges and implants.

Another exciting prospect for dentists is the improvement in dental technology which allows dentists to provide more effective and less painful treatment to patients.

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