Dentist – Career Rankings, Salary, Reviews and Advice

Dentists identify and treat problems concerning a patient’s mouth, gums and teeth. Their duties include extracting teeth, fitting dentures and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgeries. They are assisted by dental hygienists, who complete a patient’s teeth cleaning, and by dental assistants, who usually help with record keeping and instrument sterilization.

Many people dread the dentist. When they open wide, they’re afraid what the dentist will find. Yet another cavity? Or even worse – will it be time for a root canal? Will the dentist embarrass them about their flossing frequency or their coffee drinking? Will they push procedures that patients don’t want?

According to Ada S. Cooper, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association and dentist with a private practice in New York City, these concerns are why establishing trust is so important. “Patients have to know that dentists are doing what’s best for them,” Cooper says. And they can do this by being honest, ethical and compassionate – three qualities Cooper looks for when she is hiring at her practice. She also highlights the importance of good communication skills.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.6 percent employment growth for dentists between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 10,400 jobs should open up.