Dentists, general

SOC Code: 29-1021
Also known as:
Dental Medicine Doctor (DMD), Dental Officer, Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS), Dentist, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Median Annual Salary
$172,790
+4.1% growth (2024-2034)
4K
Openings/Year
130K
Current Jobs

What Dentists, general Do

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.

💰 Salary

$172,790
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+4.1%
Faster than average

🎓 Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

4K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

129,800

Projected Employment (2034)

135,200

Related Careers

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

N/A • +4.1% growth
View →

Orthodontists

N/A • +4.4% growth
View →

Prosthodontists

N/A • +4.5% growth
View →

Pediatric surgeons

N/A • +1.5% growth
View →

Dental assistants

$47,300 • +6.4% growth
View →

Top Skills Required

Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
  • Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.

Technology & Tools

eClinicalWorks EHR software Henry Schein Dentrix Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software

📚 Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Dentists, general

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a dentists, general:

Dentistry

6,950 degrees awarded • 65 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Advanced General Dentistry

238 degrees awarded • 18 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Pediatric Dentistry/Pedodontics

154 degrees awarded • 23 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Best Colleges for Becoming a Dentists, general

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become dentists, general.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 135 A+
2 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 114 A+
3 New York University New York, NY 377 A
4 Tufts University Medford, MA 255 A
5 Boston University Boston, MA 227 A
6 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 191 A
7 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 182 A
8 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 118 A
9 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 104 A
10 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 91 A
11 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 52 A
12 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 138 B+
13 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ 137 B+
14 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 121 B+
15 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 118 B+
16 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 91 B+
17 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 87 B+
18 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 79 B+
19 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 50 B+
20 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY 43 B+

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dentists, general make?
The median annual salary for dentists, general is $172,790.
What education do dentists, general need?
Most dentists, general positions require a doctoral or professional degree. Common degree programs include Dentistry, Advanced General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry/Pedodontics.
Is becoming a dentists, general a good career choice?
Dentists, general is projected to see +4.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 3,900 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for dentists, general?
Top colleges for aspiring dentists, general include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Los Angeles, New York University, Tufts University, Boston University. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to dentists, general?
Dentists, general may also be known as: 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. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.