The highest-paid dental specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. These professionals are highly trained in both dental care and medical surgery. General dentistry will allow you to earn a decent income, but you can earn 50% more if you specialize. Specialization also means more years of training; four years for earning a college degree, 3 years for a dental degree (DMD or DDS) and at least 2 to 4 years of specialized training.
The oral and maxillofacial surgeon specialty program lasts an additional 4 to 6 years in addition to a bachelor's degree in dentistry. To increase their chances of getting the highest-paid jobs for dentists, while others are engaged in private practice. This career is ideal for people who naturally love helping children and who are looking for well-paying careers working with children. The pediatric dentist specialty program lasts 2 to 3 additional years after the dental degree course.
After earning a dental degree, you will need 2 to 3 additional years to complete the specialty program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Qualified dental school graduates must complete a 2-year program to obtain a certificate in dental public health. However, dentists who take specialty dental courses, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, prosthodontists, and periodontics, earn more than doctors. Dentistry is one of the fields of medicine that will allow you to earn a decent salary.
However, if you want to increase your income, consider pursuing specialized programs beyond dental school. Most of them pay well, and the dental specialty that pays the most is oral and maxillofacial surgery. However, salary is not the only motivation, and you should also consider your interest before deciding on the best specialization. Keep in mind that most programs will require an additional 2 to 3 years after completing a degree.
Prosthodontics is the highest-paid dental specialty on our list. These health professionals specialize in reconstructive dental work, such as bridges or dentures. Prosthodontists can also help with problems such as dental implants and crowns.
