dentist

Everyone will generally see some sort of dentist in their life. Maybe you will see more than one type of dentist. Have you ever wondered which type of dentist makes the most on an annual basis? In order to understand why each dentist makes the salary they do, you have to understand what each dentist does and why they differ.

What is a Dentist?

A dentist is a special kind of doctor who focuses on overall oral health, optimization and maintenance. Dentists are responsible for mending patient’s teeth and preventing serious issues from occurring.

In the same way, there are a number of different specialist doctors, there are many different specialized dentists.

What Kinds Of Dentists Are There?

These are the seven most common dentists. Keep in mind, some dentists are able to practice in more than one specialty.

General dentists

General dentists are your primary oral care provider. They are sometimes called family dentists as well. They typically focus their practice around prevention as opposed to correction, they teach and encourage their patients healthy dental routines. In a typical visit to the general dentist, you will have your teeth professionally cleaned, evaluated, and may even have x-rays taken to check for any hidden cavities. General dentists also offer cosmetic treatments like whitening and veneers to enhance the cosmetic appearance of your grin.

Pediatric dentist

If you are under the age of 16, you are likely to visit a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists focus on developing dental health. A pediatric dentist does everything a general dentist does, but for children. Additionally, pediatric dentists monitor jaw and tooth development. They check to make sure all children’s teeth are present, emerging as they should and that the jaw develops correctly.

Orthodontist

An orthodontist is a special type of dentist who specializes in correcting misaligned teeth and jaw structure. Orthodontists use a number of long term dental devices to correct any alignment issues or jaw structure problems. Common devices include braces, palate expanders and retainers. Following treatment, you will have a structurally healthy and visually pleasing bite and smile.

Prosthodontist

If you ever lose a permanent tooth as an adult, your general dentist may refer you to a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist focuses on replacing missing teeth using dental prosthetics. Dental prosthetics include dental implants, dental bridges, dentures, crowns, and caps.

Periodontist

Your gums and other soft tissues are a vital part of your oral health. A periodontist is a specialist who focuses on addressing issues with soft tissues in a patient’s oral cavity. If you have problems with gum health, gingivitis, or gum disease, you may be referred to a periodontist for corrective treatments.

Oral surgeon

Oral surgeons are vital to the dental community. Oral surgeons conduct a number of intense surgeries revolving around your gums, teeth, face, and jaw. They work with matters ranging from wisdom tooth extraction all the way to full palate reconstruction surgeries. Oral surgeons are also the type of dentist who will  perform the dental implant surgery.

Endodontist

If you ever need to have a root canal procedure you will probably need to see an endodontist. Endodontists specialize in treating diseases of the inner tooth soft tissue. The inner tissues include pulp, nerves, and blood. Endodontists commonly treat abscessed teeth, broken roots, and more.

So which dentist is typically paid the most?

What Is The Highest Paid Dentist?

Dentistry is not a part of the universal Canadian healthcare system. Patient expenses come from personal medical insurance. Because their practice is private, dentists can generally charge whatever they want setting their own salary. That being said, for most dentists, there is a general understanding when it comes to cost and salary. Newer dentists, no matter the specialization, make less than their experienced peers. On average, here are the top 3 highest paid types of dentist.

Oral surgeon – Upwards of $300,000

Oral surgeons are paid the most out of all dentists. They have a number of specialized and high risk responsibilities. When it comes to their procedural treatments, they need to be extremely careful and use extreme precision with anesthetics and surgical tools. Part of the reason oral surgeons are paid so much is because they go through an extensive amount of training and school. On average an oral surgeon goes through seven to eight years of additional school on top of the dental requirements.

Endodontist – Just under $300,000

Treating complex issues with the inner tooth takes expert skills. Skills only possessed by experienced endodontists. Patients place the well being of their tooth in the hands of an endodontist. An endodontist regularly saves teeth from extraction and has tools to manage pain in a evidently skilled manner. To become an endodontist, you need to go through more school than general dentists. You also need a specialized dental certificate in order to practice in the field.

Orthodontist – $275,000

Perfecting smiles is not an easy job, orthodontists do their job extremely well. Orthodontists will predict the future development of their patients teeth and jaw, then administer any proactive or corrective treatments they see fit. Being an orthodontist takes not only specialized education and skill, but extreme patience and foresight to be good at what you do.

This top three list is not to discredit other kinds of dentists, though. All dentists work extremely hard to keep their patients healthy and smiling. Book your next appointment with a dentist today!

Author’s Bio

Nicole Howe is a content writer at BreezeMaxWeb. When she isn’t writing, you can find her walking half marathons, biking, or watching Raptors basketball!

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