Why You Should Consider a Career as a Dental Professional

Dentistry: An attractive career choice

• Flexibility
• Creativity
• Security
• Prestige
• Personal Satisfaction
• Health Promotion

Career profile

• 164,000-plus dentists in the United States
• General dentists: 80%
• Specialists: 20%
• Private practitioners: 92% (67% are solo practitioners)
• 2001: Approximately 40% of DMD's are in salaried positions
• 1995 Gallup Poll: Dentists are third "Most Trusted" Profession (behind pharmacists and clergy). 92% of respondents would refer friends and relatives to their dentist
• Women in dental school classes: More than 40% nationwide; UMMC SOD 2009 entering class = 51% female

Dental economics

• UMC School of Dentistry = One of the least expensive schools in the U.S.
• 2005 average net income of general dentists (U.S.) = $198,000
• Average net income of specialists (U.S.) = $304,000
• Net hourly rate of dentists now exceeds that of: Family practitioner, physicians, pediatricians, general internists and psychiatrists
• Average income of dentist: Top 5% of U.S. family incomes
• Dental offices: Third highest category of U.S. businesses "Most Likely to Survive" (According to Inc Magazine)
• Average dentist workweek: 37 hours/week (limited "on call" responsibilities)

Future trends in dentistry

• 2001 - 2020: 48,000 U.S. dentists will reach retirement age
• 1990: Ratio of dentists per 100,000 U.S. population = 59.5
• 2020: Ratio expected to be 57.2 (fewer practicing dentists)
• Growing demands for oral health care services:
• U.S. population living longer, retaining more of their teeth
• Older population able to afford more oral health care services

Career opportunities

• Traditional private practice
• Academic dentistry
• Research and industry
• Military dentistry
• Public health - state
  • State dental public health facilities
  • County public health facilities
• Public health - federal
  • Indian health service
  • Federal bureau of prisons

Dental specialties

• Endodontics
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Public health

Other notable items

• Dentistry easily practiced on part-time basis; ample time to raise family and earn comfortable living;
• Many oral-maxillofacial surgery programs offer MD along with specialty training;
• Dentists are licensed immediately after dental school, with considerable earning potential just four years out of college;