Written by: Holly Douglas, DDS
Date: January 24, 2022
Interested in a career as a dentist? Great choice!
The road to becoming a dentist is a long one, with a great deal of competitive training and expensive education. However, if you make it through dental school, being a dentist is a very enjoyable career: dentists enjoy high salaries, great work-life balance, and a flexible, rewarding job environment.
If you’re curious about the life of a career dentist, read this guide to find out how to get a job as a dentist: salary, job outlooks, where to apply, and more.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dentists made a median income of $151,850. Top earners can make as much as $208,000. U.S. News rates dentists as the #1 Best Healthcare Job, and #2 in 100 Best Jobs. Salary.com notes that the median salary has risen in 2020, so you can expect your salary as a dentist to rise over time and with changing financial times.
Dentists perform a variety of tasks every day. In addition, some dentists choose to specialize in specific areas of care, such as pediatrics, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery. These specialists perform a more limited set of treatments and procedures.
General dentists are responsible for many different treatment, procedures, and office duties, according to the American Dental Association (ADA):
Many dentists choose to start their own practice, making them both medical practitioners and small business owners. These responsibilities include:
Becoming a dentist is a long road, involving a great deal of training. To become a licensed dentist, you’ll need to complete undergraduate education and then apply to an accredited dental school, which requires taking the Dental Assessment Test (DAT); more competitive dental programs require a higher score.
Dental school is generally four years, each of which requires intensive coursework and clinical training. Dentists who choose to specialize or get more training go on to a residency, which is 2-5 years of supplemental practical training in the chosen area of specialization.
Once you become a dentist, you’ll have to become licensed in order to practice dentistry or a dental specialty in the U.S. To become licensed, you’ll need to take the two-part National Board Dental Examination. The exam is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, and aspiring dentists generally take it during dental school, so that they are licensed upon graduation.
In addition to the national license, all dentists are subject to state-specific licensing requirements. You’ll need to become licensed in the state where you want to practice in order to secure a dentist job in that state. Use this guide from the ADA to find the licensing requirements for dentists in your state.
Once you’ve become a licensed dentist, you’re ready to apply for jobs! Clinical internships and training are generally sufficient experience to apply for jobs, although certain offices may only want to hire dentists who have already been practicing for several years.
Larger practices may be more inclined to hire new graduates since there will be other more experienced dentists on hand to answer questions and serve as mentors to new dentists.
According to the American Dental Education Association, which provides resources to aspiring dentists and dental specialists, there are several personality traits that make for an effective dentist:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has sunny projections for the future of dentistry: the data analyst organization projects 7.6% employment growth for dentists between 2018 and 2028, which Is above average. They note that 10,400 new dentist jobs are likely to be created in that time.
A large appeal of a career in dentistry is that it’s nearly guaranteed to never go out of favor: proper oral health is a critical aspect of human health, and there will always be demand for well-trained, experienced dentists all across the country.
For that reason, you can feel confident that after investing in a dental degree, you’ll have excellent job prospects awaiting you once you’re licensed.
Most dentists work full-time; some, including semi-retired dentists, may move down to part-time. The schedule depends on the hours of the specific dental office: some dental practices are open 7 days a week, requiring dentists to work 5 of those days, and usually take rotation shifts with other dentists working on the weekends.
Other offices may only be open Monday through Friday, or a smaller portion of the week. Dentists who open their own practice have a great deal of flexibility in setting their schedule, as patients can be scheduled whenever is convenient for the dentist. Flexibility is one of the most often cited reasons that dentists love their jobs.
If you’re looking for a dentist job, there are several resources that can help you find a great position in your area.
Some tips for finding a dentist job:
Interested in a general dentist career? Learn more about dentist careers at Diamond Braces.