Types of Dental Jobs – Which Is Right for You?

There are many different types of dental jobs available to those who wish to work in the industry. The best way to figure out which kind of job you want is by looking at each one individually and seeing if it suits your interests.

Some people prefer working in a private office setting where they do procedures on patients who come in for care, while others like being more hands-on with lab work or assisting dentists with surgeries.

Regardless of what you choose, there are excellent benefits that come along with the profession, such as earning potential, independence, variety, opportunities for advancement, and an array of career paths open to you. With so many choices, it can take a while to determine what type of dental job is the right option for you. Take a moment and read about some common dental careers below.

What Are Your Options?

Dentist

A dentist typically works in their private office setting, treating patients who present with different types of problems. Once a student graduates from dental school and takes their state licensing exams they can practice General Dentistry. Anytime you go to the dentist for a regular cleaning and exam, you will encounter a general Dentist. But you can specialize in various dental specialities which we will review in this blog.

Responsibilities:

• Perform general dental exams
• Create teeth molds
• Perform root canals and other dental procedures
• Do fillings and crowns
• Review and interpret x-rays

Average Salary:

• $164,010

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 8 years – 4 years of undergraduate education & 4 years of dental school

Dental Assistant

They work directly under the supervision of dentists and assist with the care they give patients. They typically assist during appointments and surgeries by preparing materials such as instruments or medication for the dentist who does what’s necessary to help their patient feel comfortable before performing the treatment. Dental assistants also help educate patients about proper oral hygiene to prevent serious health problems from occurring in the future. Dental assistants are more focused on patient care and administrative clinical work, while dental hygienists complete cleanings and exams.

Responsibilities:

• Sterilize dental instruments
• Prepare clinical work areas for dental treatment procedures
• Complete laboratory tasks and process x-rays
• Assist patients with billing, payment questions, and scheduling appointments

Average Salary:

• $38,660 per year ($18.59 per hour)

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 1 or 2 year dental assistant vocational program accredited by CODA
• Some states accept on-the-job training in place of formal education

Dental Hygienist

This type of dental job focuses on keeping patients’ mouths healthy by cleaning teeth, removing plaque buildup that causes decay, and helping prevent gum disease. Dental hygienists have the necessary education to do fillings if necessary. Still, it’s not an area they specialize in or perform too frequently unless they work directly under a dentist’s supervision.

Dental hygienists often work in private offices, assist with cleanings/procedures during surgeries, and educate patients on self-care at home, such as diet modification and brushing techniques. Like dental assistants, they receive formal training after high school, which can take up to two years depending on the program chosen.

Responsibilities:

• Remove plaque, tartar, and stains from patients’ teeth
• Apply sealants and fluoride treatments to protect teeth from decay
• Assess the oral health of patients and give health reports to dentists

Average Salary:

• $77,090 a year ($37.06 per hour)

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 2 years to obtain an Associate’s degree in dental hygiene

Dental Technician

They typically work in a dental office and make dentures, crowns, bridges, and other products that people need to improve the condition of their teeth. They use molds of patients’ teeth to create these products using different materials such as porcelain or resin, heated up into a liquid form, then poured into molds for shaping before it hardens back into its original state. They cannot examine, diagnose, advise or treat patients. This role is best suited for individuals who want to work with their hands in a lab setting.

Responsibilities:

• Filling orders for dental prosthetics or restorations, like dentures, bridges, veneers, inlays, and crowns
• Creating individual models of patients’ mouths from both physical and digital molds
• Working with various materials, including plaster, wax, porcelain, and metal
  Matching the color and shape of the model to patients’ teeth

Average Salary:

• $35,000 a year ($16.83 per hour)

Average Time Spent on Education:

• High school diploma or GED
• Job prospects can be better for those who complete a 2 year dental tech training program

Pediatric Dentist

A pediatric dentist is a specialized dentist that treats infants up to the teenage years. They have specific schooling that focuses on the dental care of children including kid specific issues like baby teeth, gum disease, child dental development issues and more. This role is great for individuals who enjoy working with children because they will have to develop skills of examining and treating children in ways that make them comfortable. They also use specially designed equipment in offices that are arranged and decorated with children in mind.

Responsibilities:

• Infant oral health exams
• Repair cavities or defects
• Diagnosis and treat oral conditions in children
• Management of gum diseases
• Care for dental injuries

Average Salary:

• $242,000 a year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 10 years – 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, & 2 years of residency in a pediatric dental setting

Denturist

Their job is to make dentures for people who have lost teeth and need a replacement. Denturists also help modify dentures that already exist so they fit better if patients require an adjustment or want a more aesthetically pleasing look.

After receiving training which can take up to two years, denturists must pass a certification exam before legally practicing in their field. They typically work in a private office setting, but some may choose to own their own business as well.

Responsibilities:

• Make impressions, make necessary jaw relation records, select artificial teeth, design and fabricate dentures
• Perform any adjunctive services such as repair dentures, relines and adjustments of removable dentures
• Provide sports mouth guards and night guards
• Creating clone of your dentures

Average Salary:

• $60,601 a year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 2 – 3 years – 2 years to obtain Associate’s degree in a denturist program and some states require ~1,000 hours of clinical experience.

Endodontist

Their job focuses on treating the tooth’s inner pulp instead of concentrating on orthodontics like other professionals in the dental industry. This type of dentist diagnoses and treats problems that affect the tooth’s exterior, such as cavities or gum disease, but it’s the inner pulp that they’re concerned with.

Endodontists treat any damages or infections that affect the pulp through procedures like root canals to remove infected tissue, clean out the tooth, and fill any resulting holes before sealing it off again.

Responsibilities:

• Examining, diagnosing and treating the nerve and dental tissue of a patient’s teeth
• Performing root canals on patients
• Performing various endodontic surgeries, such as apicoectomies

Average Salary:

• $198,827 per year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 10 years – 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, & 2 years of residency in an endodontist office

Orthodontist

This type of dental professional is concerned with diagnosing and treating malocclusions, the misalignment of teeth. While they also treat patients who require fillings or other procedures, this area of dentistry involves creating special appliances such as braces that help to align crooked teeth to prevent future complications like chipping or cracking.

Patients usually need to visit their orthodontist every four to six weeks for adjustments unless there’s an emergency.

Responsibilities:

• Diagnosing teeth, mouth, and jaw abnormalities
• Evaluating the best treatment method for correction
• Preparing mouths for braces or other treatments with spacers, arch wires, etc.
• Designing, applying, and adjusting individualized appliances

Average Salary:

• $225,760 a year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 10 years – 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, & 2 years of residency in an orthodontist office

Periodontist

This area specifically focuses on treating and diagnosing diseases and other problems which occur beneath the gums. Their job entails performing surgeries that involve root planing, curettage, scaling, and root debridement. The position also involves performing crown lengthening procedures to remove excess tissue to prevent areas around teeth from getting infected.

They typically visit their patients every three months, then check up on them as needed unless there’s an emergency like a bone infection or a cyst.

Responsibilities:

• Scaling and root planing and root surface debridement
• Treating severe gum problems using a range of surgical procedures
• Placement, maintenance, and repair of dental implants

Average Salary:

• $175,000 a year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 10 years – 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, & 2 years of residency in an periodontist office

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

This professional is responsible for performing many procedures, including oral surgery to remove impacted or diseased teeth. They also treat problems related to the mouth, jaws, face, head, and neck by using bone grafting techniques to increase the amount of bone available for other surgeons to operate on.

After completing dental school then several years of residency training in a hospital, they must pass an exam to become board certified before legally practicing their profession.

Responsibilities:

• Performing biopsies and surgically removing tumors and abnormal growths of the oral and maxillofacial area
• Adjusting patients’ jaws to provide increased functionality, comfort, and symmetry
• Removing impacted wisdom teeth and buried dental roots
• Performing reconstructive surgery to treat congenital defects, structural abnormalities, and injuries

Average Salary:

• $208,000 a year

Average Time Spent on Education:

• 12 years- 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, & 4 years of surgical residency. You do have the option of obtaining a medical degree.

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