How to Make a Lot of Money as a Dentist: A Simple Guide
Do you want to make good money as a dentist? Maybe you’re just getting started, or you’ve been working for a while and wonder how some dentists make so much. In this article, I’ll give you real ways (not just “try hard!”) to help you earn more in dentistry. You’ll see why some dentists make great money, while others feel stuck. I’ll show you common problems, how getting the right people around you and making smart choices can really pay off. This isn’t just nice advice—it’s advice that works.
Table of Contents
What Decides How Much You Make as a Dentist?
Let’s be honest: Not all dentists make the same. Some make “pretty good,” and some make “amazing” money. Why? It comes down to what you do.
Main things that change your pay:
- Type of Job: Are you an employee, owner, or working with a big dental group (DSO)?
- Area of Work: Are you a general dentist, or do you do braces, surgery, or gum work?
- Where You Work: City dentists may charge more, but their costs are high. Small towns often have less competition.
- Office Efficiency: How well do you handle your time, team, and patients?
The American Dental Association shows that owners often make 50–100% more than employees. Dentists who do braces or surgery often make more than $400,000. Busy owners with big offices can reach a million dollars or more.
The Problem: Many dentists never reach their full income because they don’t know what to do—or how to start.
Is Owning a Dental Office the Way to Earn More?
Here’s something clear: The biggest paychecks often go to owners. Why? When you own, you have:
- Control over when and what you do
- The power to set prices
- All the gains from the business growing
But let’s be honest. Owning an office takes risk and hard work. Starting from scratch can cost $500,000 or more. Buying an existing office is cheaper and brings in money right away.
Worried about staff, bills, or law stuff? Most new owners are. If you don’t know business, get help from a dental advisor or join a dental group for an easier start.
Solution: With the right help—like a good dental accountant and advice from groups like the American Dental Association—you can learn as you go. Over time, you can even open more offices or join a top china dental lab network to earn more.
Should You Become a Specialist or Stay General?
Is it worth it to pick a special area and get extra training? Here’s what to know:
| Dentist Job | Usual Pay |
|---|---|
| General Dentist | $170,000–$350,000 |
| Orthodontist | $300,000–$500,000+ |
| Oral Surgeon | $400,000–$600,000+ |
| Root Canal Specialist | $300,000–$450,000 |
Specialists make more because they do harder jobs that not many can do. For example, surgery and braces pay well. And people still need these services.
Is more school expensive? Yes, but most dentists make back the money in a few years, especially if they open a special office.
Solution: Picking a specialty, like dental implants, cosmetic work, or snoring solutions, can bring in more money and help your patients, too.
How Can New Procedures Bring In More Money?
Dentists who make the most don’t just clean teeth. They offer:
- Dental implants
- Veneers and better smiles
- Full mouth fixes
- Clear braces, like Invisalign
These jobs cost more for patients, which means more income for you. For example, placing implants can add a lot to your yearly pay.
How to start? Take training classes from places like the Kois Center or the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, then get new tools like digital scanners or use a good dental ceramics lab.
Big companies like Henry Schein, Patterson Dental, and Straumann sell things that make these jobs easier for you and your patients.
Problem: Some dentists don’t try new things, thinking their day is too busy or their patients won’t pay more.
Solution: Try adding one new, high-paying service at a time. Tell your patients about it and watch your profit grow.
Why Does Office Efficiency and Patient Flow Matter?
Picture this: You work all day, your place is busy—but your paycheck is small. Why? High costs. Most dental offices spend 60–70% of what they make on running the office.
How can you change this?
Are you missing money because things run slow or messy? A lot of dentists are!
Solution: Fix these small problems, and you might save thousands every month, even without extra patients.
Practice Efficiency at a Glance
| Area | What to Do | Money Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | No empty spots | $1,000–$5,000/month |
| Overhead cost | Cheaper supplies/lab | 5–10% more profit |
| Staff use | More patients per hour | Over $50,000/year |
How Do You Get More Patients and Keep Them Happy?
Problem: What if your patients stop coming, or you can’t get the ones who pay for quality work?
Don’t just hope people see you online and come in. Do this instead:
- Work on your Google listing so people can find you locally
- Post on social media—before and after pictures work great!
- Offer special plans for regular patients
- Ask happy people to refer friends (and say thanks!)
You can get help from marketing companies that know about dentists, or go to meetings like CDA Presents to hear about new ideas.
Losing patients feels like a bucket with holes. Each lost person is lost money.
Solution: Set up good recall (reminder) systems, treat people well, and make the visit enjoyable. You’ll see more patient referrals and loyal fans.
Can a Better Team Help You Earn More?
You can’t do everything by yourself. A strong, trained team helps you:
- Work faster
- Make fewer mistakes
- Have happier patients
Quick tips:
- Hire people with a good attitude; teach them skills later.
- Have meetings and practice training.
- Give clear goals to your team (better team work means more money).
- Teach your helpers to talk with patients about useful add-ons like mouth guards or clear braces.
Problem: Some dentists try to do everything, even what helpers could do.
If you slow things down, you slow your income.
Solution: Trust your team, hand off jobs, and keep cheering them on—you’ll pull ahead of the crowd.
How Does Good Financial Planning Grow Your Wealth?
Earning lots of money doesn’t help if you lose it quickly.
Ways dentists build up wealth:
I’ve seen dentists making $700,000 a year but saving little, and others making $300,000 and building a good retirement. The difference? Smart money planning.
Solution: Get a finance pro on your team—someone who knows about dentist money matters.
What About Planning for the Future or Selling Your Practice?
Even dentists who make a million dollars will retire one day. Smart dentists:
- Watch their office’s value from the beginning
- Plan for leaving years before they want to stop
- Build up the value of their business and office building
- Think about selling to a dental group (DSO), another dentist, or partner
Groups like Dental Service Organizations, office brokers, and lawyers can help you get a good deal.
Problem: Many dentists wait too long to start planning.
Want a comfy retirement? You need a plan early.
Solution: Meet with your advisor often to keep your plan on track and make sure you get the most when it’s time to leave.
How Do Dentists Keep from Burning Out and Still Make Money?
Dentistry isn’t just tough on your back—it’s tiring for your mind. Some great dentists have left too soon, losing years of income.
How top earners avoid this:
- Make time for life outside work
- Train your team and let them help (good teams mean less stress)
- Take breaks and vacations—let others help more
- Keep learning new things at events like the Greater New York Dental Meeting
A happy dentist is a dentist who makes more money!
Real Stories from Dentists Who Earn More
Here are some real cases, based on dental magazines and checked by Dr. Joe Dental and others.
- Dr. Anna, General Dentist—She bought a small office, learned to use digital tools, and worked with a crown and bridge lab to get faster, better results. After five years, she doubled her pay, making $400,000+.
- Dr. Ben, Orthodontist—He started online ads and used payment plans like CareCredit. Focusing on better office flow and tech (like iTero scanners), his income went up by 30% in two years.
- Dr. Carla, Cosmetic Dentist—She called herself the “smile makeover” pro, used a veneer lab, and built a small group of specialist friends. Her yearly take-home went over $1 million, with lots of repeat high-paying patients.
Key Takeaways Summary
- Owning offices and picking a specialty are the biggest pay boosters for dentists.
- Efficient offices earn the most: Run your schedule well, spend less, and trust your team.
- Adding new services—like implants or clear braces—grows your income fast.
- Marketing and patient care help you grow: Use online tools, social media, and keep patients happy.
- Money planning is huge: Work with experts who know dentist money.
- Don’t wait to plan your way out: Think early about how you’ll end your career.
- A happy, trained team = more money and less stress.
- Work with great partners: For tools and lab work, choose reliable places such as china dental lab, known and trusted by dentists everywhere.
If you think big, follow these simple steps, and keep learning, you can make a lot of money as a dentist—without losing your joy or your health. Anyone can succeed in dentistry if they keep working on getting better, step by step.
References
- American Dental Association (ADA), dental workforce surveys (checked by Dr. Joe Dental, DDS)
- Dental Economics, Practice Management Reports
- Medscape Physician Pay Report
- Dental consultant stories and case studies checked by experts
- ADA Health Policy Institute
