Dentists, General Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Medical software

Tasks
	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.
	Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.
	Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
	Analyze or evaluate dental needs to determine changes or trends in patterns of dental disease.
	Treat exposure of pulp by pulp capping, removal of pulp from pulp chamber, or root canal, using dental instruments.

Skills
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	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.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge
	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.
	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.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
	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 m

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $221,844.00 $106.66  $48.08  N/A - N/A  Bridgeport/Stamford $273,921.00 $131.69  $71.55  N/A - N/A  Danbury $226,491.00 $108.89  $50.32  N/A - N/A  Hartford $234,506.00 $112.75  $65.72  N/A - N/A  New Haven $176,752.00 $84.98  $22.51  N/A - N/A  New London/Norwich $221,628.00 $106.55  $62.73  $71.32 - $111.37  Waterbury $203,713.00 $97.94  $46.84  N/A - N/A  Torrington $177,680.00 $85.42  $27.84  $26.62 - $101.08

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   81   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
	Anesthesiologists
	Nurse Anesthetists
	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
	Orthodontists
	Pharmacists
	Prosthodontists

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.