Dental Employment

Dental employment statistics for 2002 reveal that dentists held approximately 92,460 jobs. Compensation for dental employment varied significantly depending upon the size and nature of the employer, its geographic location, and economic conditions. In 2002, most dentists earned between $75,420 and $123,210. The lowest 10 percent of the profession earned less than $52,170, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $123,210. Most dental hygienists earned between $45,680 and $67,550, with the lowest 10 percent of the profession earning less than $36,060, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $81,620.

Associated with healthcare careers, the fastest growing industry, dentistry is projecting large occupational growth.  Increased healthcare continues to make it easier for patients to receive dental care, and with the advanced awareness of dental hygiene, patients have a greater retention of their natural teeth.  As the Baby Boomer population ages, experts are projecting an increased need for professionals to care for disorders commonly associated with adult patients.  Other increases in dental occupations will be due to dentists hiring dental hygienists, assistants, techs, and other support staff in order to increase the work loads they may handle.  Due to this, dental hygienist and dental assistant jobs are expected to have the largest occupational growth among all fields. 

Dental careers focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions, disorders, and diseases associated with the mouth and related structures.  There are numerous structures associated with the mouth, leaving dental professionals with nine different areas of expertise they may specialize in. Those specialties include:

• Dental Public Health
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Endontics
• Orthodontics and Dentafacial Orthopaedics
• Pedodontics
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics

Practitioners may choose to earn a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree, both demand the same amount of formal training and requirements.  All specialties require professionals to complete their education at an accredited dental school, with an additional two to six years of formal education, depending upon their concentration.  Before professionals may begin a medical practice, they must pass a state specific exam for licensure and registration.  Most certifications are not valid in multiple states, and generally require continuing education. 

Most dentists are enlisted in private offices, making approximately one out of every five healthcare organizations a dental office.  The majority of dental practitioners are self employed, and utilize only a few workers.  A dentist’s office generally has one dentist with a small support staff, but partnerships and corporations are also common.  Support professionals may include dental lab technicians, assistants, hygienists, oral surgery assistants, and many others.  All occupations within the dental field are projecting positive growth through 2014. 

For more information on employment in the dental field, please visit the following sites:

• American Dental Education Association
• American Student Dental Association
• University of Pittsburg
• Martindale Center
• BracesInfo.com

Let iHireDental help with your employment needs.  We feature nationwide job postings for candidates, as well as job posting availability for employers.  A few of the job titles we offer include:

• Office Manager
• Practice Administrator
• Receptionist
• Dental Sales Representative
• Pediatric Dentist
• Endodontist