Dentists, General
Health Science · Therapeutic Services
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $58,940; experienced workers reach $341,560. About 690 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- +19.9%
- Openings a year
- 47
- Employed in 2024
- 979
Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.
Browse all programsSkills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1
- Reading Comprehension5.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Learning4.5
What the work is
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.
- 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.
- Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
- Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
- Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- Some college7%
- Associate degree6%
- Master's degree6%
- Doctoral or professional81%
Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.
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