Dentists, General

What the job really 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.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1021
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
• 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.
• Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
• Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
• Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
• Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
• Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
• 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.
• Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.
• Treat exposure of pulp by pulp capping, removal of pulp from pulp chamber, or root canal, using dental instruments.
• Remove diseased tissue, using surgical instruments.

Tools and technology

Henry Schein Dentrix, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, eClinicalWorks EHR software, ABELSoft ABELDent, ACE Dental, Accounting software, Air compressors, Air/water syringe tips, Air/water syringes, AlphaDent, AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Dental

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Prosthodontists
• Orthodontists
• Dental Assistants
• Pediatric Surgeons
• Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
• Dental Hygienists
• Dermatologists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Dentists, General — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.