Healthcare career

Dentist

Also called: General Dentist · DDS · DMD · Family Dentist

What dentists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a dentist do?

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums and related parts of the mouth, providing fillings, crowns, extractions, cleanings oversight and preventive care. The median pay is $170,950 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 8 years after high school, and employment is projected to grow +5.7% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $170,950
    $82.19/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +5.7%
    2025–35, faster than average
  • Openings per year
    4,200
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    8 years after high school
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    141,900
    Employment, 2025

What dentists do

Dentists keep mouths healthy. They examine teeth and gums, read X-rays, fill cavities, repair cracked teeth, place crowns and bridges, extract teeth, treat gum disease, perform root canals and teach patients how to prevent problems. Many own or co-own their practices and manage hygienists, assistants and office staff.

Dentists need a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, usually four years after college, and a state license. Specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons complete residencies.

Typical duties

  • Examine teeth, gums and mouth
  • Take and read dental X-rays
  • Fill cavities and repair teeth
  • Place crowns, bridges and implants
  • Extract teeth
  • Treat gum disease and infections
  • Teach preventive care

Work environment and schedule

Dentists work in private offices, group practices, clinics, hospitals and public health programs.

Schedule: Most work full-time, often four or five days a week, with some evening or Saturday hours.

A day in the life

  1. Review the schedule and X-rays with the team.
  2. Fill two cavities for a patient.
  3. Check a hygienist’s patient and do an exam.
  4. Prepare a tooth for a crown.

See a full day in the life of a dentist →

Dentist salary

Half of dentists earned more than $170,950 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $86,250 for the lowest 10% to $319,630 for the top 10%.

Full dentist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a dentist

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
  2. Take the DAT
  3. Complete dental school
  4. Pass board and clinical exams
  5. Practice or specialize

A DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school is required, usually after a bachelor’s degree, plus passing the Integrated National Board Dental Examination and a clinical exam.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a dentist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Restorative dentistry
  • Oral diagnosis
  • Radiography
  • Local anesthesia
  • Extractions

People skills

  • Manual dexterity
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Calm reassurance

All dentist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • High pay
  • Good work-life balance
  • Practice ownership possible
  • Steady demand

Cons

  • Expensive, long education
  • Physically demanding posture
  • Running a business
  • Anxious patients

Certifications and licenses

  • State dental license: Required to practice.
  • INBDE: Integrated National Board Dental Examination.
  • DEA registration: To prescribe controlled substances.
  • Sedation permits: Required to provide sedation.

Career path

  1. Associate Dentist: Practice in a group.
  2. Practice Owner: Run a practice.
  3. Specialist: After residency.
  4. Faculty or Dental Director: Teach or lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Dentist training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as place a composite filling and present a treatment plan, safety and how to land your first job.

View Dentist trainingIs this career right for me?

Dental Hygienist

Clean teeth, screen for oral disease and teach patients how to keep their mouths healthy.

  • $98,100
  • About 3 years

Dental Assistant

Prepare patients, assist the dentist chairside, take X-rays and sterilize instruments.

  • $48,070
  • 9–12 months

Orthodontist

Straighten teeth and correct bites with braces and aligners.

  • $289,140
  • 10–11 years after high school

Compare: Dentist vs. Dental Hygienist · Dentist vs. Dental Assistant · Dentist vs. Orthodontist · Dentist vs. Dental Lab Tech

Dentist FAQ

How long does it take to become a dentist?

Usually 8 years: a bachelor’s and four years of dental school.

What’s the difference between DDS and DMD?

They’re equivalent degrees; schools choose the name.

Do dentists own their practices?

Many do, though more now work in group practices.

How much does a dentist make?

The median annual wage for dentists was $170,950 ($82.19 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $86,250 and the highest 10% earned more than $319,630.

How long does it take to become a dentist?

Most people need about 8 years after high school of training. A DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school is required, usually after a bachelor’s degree, plus passing the Integrated National Board Dental Examination and a clinical exam.

Do you need a degree to be a dentist?

Yes. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education, and you also need a state license to practice.

More dentist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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