Occupation Summary

Dentists, General

O*NET 29-1021.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$162,896.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 26.41%.
Education Level:
Doctoral Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
  2. 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.
  3. Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
  4. Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
  5. Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
  6. Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
  7. Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.
  8. Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
  9. Analyze or evaluate dental needs to determine changes or trends in patterns of dental disease.
  10. Treat exposure of pulp by pulp capping, removal of pulp from pulp chamber, or root canal, using dental instruments.
  11. Eliminate irritating margins of fillings and correct occlusions, using dental instruments.
  12. Perform oral or periodontal surgery on the jaw or mouth.
  13. Remove diseased tissue, using surgical instruments.
  14. Apply fluoride or sealants to teeth.
  15. Bleach, clean, or polish teeth to restore natural color.
  16. Plan, organize, or maintain dental health programs.
  17. Produce or evaluate dental health educational materials.
  18. Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
  19. Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
  20. Manage business aspects such as employing or supervising staff or handling paperwork or insurance claims.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Dentists, General employed Annual Growth Rate
Offices of dentists 74.9 1.07
Offices of physicians 2.7 0.61
Outpatient care centers 2.1 2.17


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $78.32
2022 National average hourly wage $82.83
2020 National employment 120,300
2020 Texas employment 10,098
Texas projected employment by 2030 12,765
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 574




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
100.00%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
84.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
78.60%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
70.40%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
68.60%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
65.80%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
64.40%
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
63.60%
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
60.00%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
58.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
82.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
82.40%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
80.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
80.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
77.60%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
77.60%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
77.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
85.00%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
85.00%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
82.40%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
82.40%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
82.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
82.40%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    -- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.



Tools

Air compressors: Air compressors;

Attachments or replacement parts for dental instruments: Ball bearing contra angle assemblies; Contra angle sheaths; Surgical handles; Prophy contra angle head assemblies; Straight attachments;

Awls: Awls;

Bands for dental matrix: Copalite bands; Amalgam bands; Dental matrix bands;

Calcium hydroxide placement tools: Dycal instruments;

Chemical or gas sterilizers: Chemical vapor sterilizers;

Composite placement tools: Composite placing instruments;

Cosmetic dentistry curing lights: Visible light curing units;

Crown or bridge removers: Bridge removers; Crown removers;

Dental absorbent holders: Gauze packers; Towel clamps;

Dental amalgamators: Electrically powered dental amalgamators;

Dental burnishers: Dental burnishers;

Dental burs: Dental excavating burs; Surgical burs;

Dental calipers: Metric calipers;

Dental carvers: Dental carvers; Amalgam condensers; Interproximal carvers;

Dental cord packers: Dental cord packing instruments;

Dental dam supplies: Rubber dam clamp forceps; Rubber dam clamps; Rubber dam frames; Rubber dam punches;

Dental depth gauges: Apex locators;

Dental drills: Dental drills;

Dental elevators: Cross-bar elevators; Fiberoptic periosteal elevators; Periodontal elevators; Periosteal elevators; Surgical elevators; Straight elevators; Root elevators;

Dental examination chairs: Dental chairs;

Dental excavators: Spoon excavators; Enamel hatchets; Endo excavators; Dental excavators;

Dental files or rasps: Bone files; Root canal files; Root canal rasps;

Dental film processors: Automatic film processing systems; Manual film processing systems;

Dental forceps: Rongeur forceps; Straight mosquito forceps; Tongue forceps; Tissue forceps; Bayonet forceps; Biscuspid forceps; Articulating paper forceps; Anterior forceps; Crown splitting forceps; Curved mosquito forceps; Crown removing pliers; Disimpaction forceps; Pedodontic forceps; Molar forceps;

Dental handpieces: Periotomes; Dental wire cutters; High-speed dental handpieces; Dental handpieces; Angle dental handpieces; Slow-speed dental handpieces; Straight dental handpieces;

Dental impression trays: Dental impression trays;

Dental instrument sharpening accessories: Sharpening stones;

Dental knives: Plaster knives; Scalpels;

Dental laboratory air abrasion units: Dental air abrasion systems;

Dental laboratory burners or torches: Endodontic micro-torches;

Dental laboratory lathes: Dental laboratory lathes;

Dental laboratory model trimmers: Model trimmers;

Dental laboratory plaster traps: Dental laboratory plaster traps;

Dental laboratory vibrators: Plaster vibrators;

Dental lasers: Photo-activated disinfection systems; Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nd:YAG dental lasers; Dental lasers; Dental carbon dioxide CO2 lasers; Tooth-whitening argon lasers;

Dental mallets: Dental mallets;

Dental margin trimmers: Dental margin trimmers;

Dental material pluggers or tips: Dental condensers; Cement placing instruments; Amalgam carriers; Amalgam wells; Plastic filling instruments; Pluggers; Endodontic pluggers; Root canal pluggers;

Dental materials dispensers: Gutta percha dispensers;

Dental matrices or sets: Amalgam retainers; Copalite retainers;

Dental mirrors or mirror handles: Fiberoptic dental mirrors; Mouth mirrors;

Dental mouth prop or bite block or gag: Dental mouth prop or bite block or gag;

Dental pressure indicating kits: Occlusal force analysis systems;

Dental probes or explorers: Periodontal pocket markers; Periodontal probing devices; Fiberoptic diagnostic probes; Explorers; Furcation probes; Double-end explorers; Double-end periodontal probes; Single-end explorers; Single-ended periodontal probes;

Dental prophylaxis kits: Prophylaxis angles; Prophylaxis brushes; Prophylaxis cups;

Dental pulp or vitality testers: Pulp testers;

Dental reamers: Root canal barbed broaches; Root canal enlargers; Root canal reamers; Gates-Glidden drills; Broaches;

Dental retainers: Matrix retainers;

Dental retractors: Dental fiberoptic retractors; Tongue retractors; Tissue retractors;

Dental root tip picks: Crane picks; Root tip picks;

Dental saliva ejectors or oral suction devices: Saliva ejectors; High-speed evacuators; Oral evacuation equipment;

Dental scalers: Posterior scalers; Anterior scalers; Sickles; Ultrasonic scaler tips;

Dental scissors: Wire and arch bar scissors; Surgical scissors; Suture scissors; Straight scissors; Crown scissors; Dental scissors;

Dental shades: Tooth color shade guides;

Dental spatulas: Dental wax spatuals; Metal spatulas; Cement spatulas; Spoons;

Dental spreaders: Root canal spreaders; Turvey maxillary expander;

Dental syringe accessory kits: Dental syringes; Needle holders; Air/water syringe tips;

Dental syringes or needles or syringes with needles: Dental aspiration syringes; Bulb irrigators;

Dental tongs: Cotton pliers;

Dental x ray units: Intraoral x ray equipment; Panoramic x ray equipment; Digital radiographic equipment; Extraoral x ray equipment;

Dental x-ray bite blocks or wings or tabs: Bite blocks;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Electronic blood pressure units: Blood pressure monitors;

Electronic medical thermometers: Digital medical thermometers;

Electronic stethoscopes: Pretracheal stethoscopes;

Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment: Dental electrosurgery devices;

Endodontic kits: Endodontic obturating cones;

Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories: Curved hemostats; Straight hemostats;

Eyewashers or eye wash stations: Eyewash stations;

Facial shields: Chin-length plastic face shields;

Foot switch: Foot controls;

General dental lights: Dental operating lights;

Grinding machines: Instrument sharpeners;

Medical exam or surgical headlights or headlamps: Headsets;

Medical imaging dry laser printers or imagers: Intraoral printers;

Medical imaging wet darkroom or daylight processors: Daylight loader film processing systems;

Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes: Dental x ray protective aprons; Thyroid collars; Thyroid shields;

Medical staff isolation or cover gowns: Protective gowns;

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED;

Mobile medical services non-suction antichoke devices: Cricothyrotomy devices;

Notebook computers: Notebook computers;

Orthodontic band drivers or pushers or setters: Band setters;

Orthodontic ligature cartridges: Ligature instruments;

Orthodontic pliers: Angled pliers; Porcelain crown pliers; Wiring pliers;

Oxygen therapy delivery system products: Nitrous oxide administration equipment;

Patient carbon dioxide detectors: Capnographs;

Periodontal chisels: Dental chisels;

Periodontal curettes: Periodontal curettes;

Periodontal knives: Periodontal knives;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Pharyngeal airways or airways kits: Laryngeal mask airways LMA;

Pointers: Pointing devices;

Pulse oximeter units: Pulse oximeters;

Safety glasses: Safety glasses;

Scanners: Scanners;

Steam autoclaves or sterilizers: Autoclaves; High heat sterilizers;

Surgical clamps or clips or forceps: Bone clamps;

Surgical gloves: Surgical gloves;

Surgical isolation or surgical masks: Surgical masks; Masks;

Surgical suction machine or vacuum extractor or ultrasonic surgical aspirator: Fiberoptic aspirators;

Teeth cleaning devices: Air/water syringes;

Ultrasonic cleaning equipment: Ultrasonic cleaners;

Videoscopes: Intraoral camera systems; Intraoral microscope systems;


Technology

Accounting software: Accounting software;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Medical software: Windent OMS; Windent SQL; eClinicalWorks EHR software; OCS Office-Partner; Open Dental; PEB XLDent; Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft; Practice management software PMS; ABELSoft ABELDent; ACE Dental; Teleo Practice Services The Complete Practitioner; ToothPics software; Voice-activated perio charting software; AlphaDent; AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Dental; DSN Software Dental-Exec; DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec; DSN Software Perio-Exec; Data Team DDS; Dental charting software; Dental clinical records software; Dental digital radiology software; Dental imaging software; Dental intra-oral imaging software; DentiMax; EZ 2000; Genesis Dental; Henry Schein DentalVision Professional; Henry Schein Dentrix; Henry Schein Easy Dental; Henry Schein EndoVision; Henry Schein PerioVision; Kodak Dental Systems Kodak PRACTICEWORKS Practice management software PMS; Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice management software PMS; MDC Services DentalMate; MOGO Dental Software MOGO;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Spreadsheet software: Spreadsheet software; Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Dentists, General include:
  • 29-1011.00 Chiropractors
  • 29-1213.00 Dermatologists
  • 29-1214.00 Emergency Medicine Physicians
  • 29-1241.00 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
  • 29-1022.00 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  • 29-1023.00 Orthodontists
  • 29-1242.00 Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
  • 29-1243.00 Pediatric Surgeons
  • 29-1024.00 Prosthodontists
  • 29-1229.03 Urologists

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.