Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners

How to become a General Dentist

Official title: Dentists, General

Also called: DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Dentist, DMD (Dental Medicine Doctor), Endodontist, Family Dentist, General Dentist, Pediatric Dentist, Pedodontist, Periodontist

Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.

Main tasks

Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.

How to become one

Dentists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by state, although candidates usually must graduate from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams.

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 48 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $170,950 a year The middle half earn $125,710 to $224,040.
About 141,900 people work in this job now, and about 150,000 are projected by 2035. (+5.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a General Dentist?

How much does a General Dentist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $170,950 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $125,710 to $224,040.

Is a General Dentist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 141,900 to about 150,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a General Dentist?

Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a General Dentist?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.