Dentists are some of the most respected professionals in the US. The profession offers good career prospects for graduates throughout the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dentistry is among the top 10 careers in the US that are held in high regard, and most sort after. A number of receptionists working for dentists accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) recently took part in a survey that sought to seek their opinions on the general state of the industry. The results; a whooping 83 percent of all respondents indicated that they considered dentistry to be a highly paying job. Indeed, they were right. BLS has it that the average dentist salary is about $198,354, for a general practitioner, and $304,024 for a specialist in dentistry. A dentist has a rather elaborate job description and therefore any fledgling dentist out there has to fully understand the demands of the job before getting all excited over the high salary of a dentist.

Job Description

Firstly, dentists’ do a lot of surgical work in order to treat and cure may of the diseases that affect both teeth and gums. The use of state of the art diagnostic machines and cutting edge techniques are a hallmark of this profession. A dentist must be able to properly identify tooth decay and cavities and know what treatment procedure to employ to get rid of the problem. Examples of treatment procedures include:

• Filling of the tooth cavities.
• Placing of protective sealants on teeth that may be susceptible to future damage.
• Straightening and replacing deformed teeth.

In addition, dentists also do other less thrilling work like guiding patients on proper brushing techniques, fluoride use, and flossing.

Dental Procedures

Any serious malformations affecting the teeth are corrected using surgery and the use of braces all of which are carried out by a dentist. Apart from treating dental diseases and prescribing medicine, a dentist also performs the following dental procedures:

• Takes impressions for patients’ dentures and crowns.
• Fits bridges and treats tartar and dental plaque.
• Administer anesthesia, which requires training to be able to do it right.

Indeed, dentistry is an involving profession. One thing that counts towards the average dentist is the line of specialization. As an example, a pediatric dentist salary is different from that of a prosthodontist.

Education And Internship

According to ADA, all dentists in the US have to undergo a four-year degree course in dentistry from a reputable dental school. After completion of the four year course, the graduate dentist is required to join an established dental practice for residency or internship for a period of not less than two years. The dental examiners board of a particular state licenses dentists who wish to operate in their state. This explains the varying dentist salary by state. Aspiring dentists must sit and pass an exam issued by the Dental Admissions. In addition, prospective candidates have to score excellent grades in Health, chemistry and biology.

Branches Of Specialization

Dentistry has several branches of specialization including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, prosthondotists (makes dentures and false teeth), orthodontists (corrects teeth irregularities), general dentists, periodontists (treat gum diseases), endodontists (ailments of the inner part of teeth) etc. A dentist salary may also vary depending on the above specializations. While prosthondontists earn approximately $169,810 annually, their orthodontist colleagues earn in excess of $186,000 annually. According to the BLS, the profession of dentistry is set to grow by an incredible 16 percent through to 2018. This is set to improve dentists’ salaries considerably.

Dental Insurance

As of 2008, dentists held approximately 141, 900 jobs. This is set to grow to 164, 000 by the year 2018. BLS has it that 3 in every 4 dentists are self employed. Salaried dentists i.e. those that are employed receive benefits from their employers. The most common benefits include malpractice insurance and health insurance. Dentists operating private practices have to come up with their own life insurance, retirement plans, health insurance and any other benefits. Despite this, dentists operating their own private practices earn more than their employed counterparts.

Setting Up A Private Practice And Outlook

However, before establishing a private clinic, a dentist who has just completed his or her residency should carry out a business study with the aim of determining the viability of the business within a locality. In order to identify prime locations and establish a thriving practice, he or she should consult the local professional dental organizations and practice brokers for assistance and guidance. Dentistry specialists in the US dominated the top 25 slots for the best paying professions according to a 2009 survey carried out by Forbes Magazine. The average salary of a dentist back then was $154,270 per annum. This earned them the number 11th position while orthodontists came in 3rd with an annual salary of $194,930. Pediatric dentist salary is also quite decent as they are the ones involved in research and administration of dental schools.

Conclusion

The dentistry profession is projected to offer better prospects for new graduates moving forward. This is as a result of the large number of older specialists who are set to retire in the next few years. Technological advances have made it possible for dentists to use advanced treatment procedures like laser dentistry which are non-intrusive and quite painless. This has seen a marked improvement in the number of patients visiting dental clinics. This has had a positive improvement on the overall salary of various dentist specialists. With this in mind, dentistry seems to be the profession of the future. All that you require is hard work, determination and a positive outlook and the dentist salary won’t seem that far off. The future of the dental industry is indeed bright for anyone looking to make forays into the industry.