How to Become a Dentist

Diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth, and provide preventive dental care. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dds, doctor of dental surgery, or dmd, doctor of medicine in dentistry), with a median salary of $170,910 per year and about average projected job growth.

Median pay

$170,910/yr

Typical range

$80,000 to $295,000

Job growth

Openings / yr

5,100

Majors that lead here

Biology Chemistry Biochemistry

Key skills

Oral Diagnosis
Restorative Dentistry
Patient Communication
Manual Dexterity
Clinical Assessment

Helpful certifications

NBDE / INBDE (National Board Dental Examination)
State Dental Licensure

Is this career a fit?

Remote-friendly

5/100

Work-life balance

62/100

Stress level

48/100

Satisfaction

75/100

Related careers

Pharmacist$132,750 median
Nurse Practitioner$126,260 median
Physician Assistant$126,010 median
Health Services Administrator$110,680 median
Physical Therapist$99,710 median
Occupational Therapist$93,180 median

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Salary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (wages May 2023, projections 2022-2032) and O*NET. National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.