Dentists, General
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Protective masks, gloves, and safety glasses are used throughout, because the work involves close contact with the mouth and instruments that can spread infection. Teeth, gums, and nearby tissues are examined with hand tools, x-rays, and other diagnostic equipment; anesthetics limit pain while air turbines, hand instruments, appliances, or surgical tools are used. A treatment plan is set for disease, injury, or malformations, and may include prescriptions for antibiotics or other medicines. Patients also get instruction on preventing problems and caring for their mouths. Suits people who like close, careful work with small instruments, logical treatment planning, and explaining care in clear terms.
Typical education: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$170'950
Median Wage Market Position
$170'950
What you might do
- Examine teeth and gums using instruments and x-rays
- Diagnose problems in teeth, gums, and nearby tissue
- Plan treatment for a patient's teeth and mouth
- Numb patients before dental procedures begin
- Write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medicines
- Advise patients on preventing future dental problems
Skills that matter
- Examining teeth and gums with instruments
- Reading x-rays to diagnose dental problems
- Planning treatment for teeth and mouth tissue
- Using dental instruments and appliances
- Numbing patients before a procedure
- Advising patients on preventive dental care
AI & the future of this role
Procedures inside the mouth, diagnosis under liability rules, and chairside patient care remain strongly human-led. Imaging analysis and admin tasks could get more software help, but demand for licensed clinical work is likely to stay solid.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details