Which dental specialty pays the most

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Others Others. An endodontist is a dental professional who specializes in oral preventative care. They may perform root canals, treat decay and add tooth implants. They may also perform surgery after injuries or accidents to help save teeth. Orthodontists are dental professionals who specialize in oral alignment.

They treat misaligned teeth and jaws with braces, headgear and retainers. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs surgery on teeth and the facial area around the mouth, including the jaws, neck and face. Their duties may include performing jaw realignment surgeries, removing impacted teeth, assessing a patient's symptoms and creating treatment plans for patients.

The national average salary for surgeons in the U. The highest-paid dental specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. These professionals are highly trained in both dental care and medical surgery. Their salary can vary depending on their professional experience, education, location and area of focus. Read more: What Is an Oral Surgeon? Oral and maxillofacial surgeons' salaries can depend upon their geographic location.

According to the latest data from Indeed Salaries, surgeons, including oral surgeons, may make more than the national average in these states:.

The requirements for becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon may vary depending on your geographic location. You can check your state guidelines to ensure you meet all career specifications for your area. The most common requirements for oral surgeons include:.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must first complete a four-year bachelor's degree program. There may choose from a variety of majors, but some choose to study pre-med, anatomy, chemistry or biology to help prepare them for their careers.

They use these test scores to apply for dental school programs. Dental school often takes four years to complete. In these programs, aspiring dentists learn about oral care and general dentistry. Dental specialty salaries are highest, on average, for dentists specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics and periodontics.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat injuries, diseases and defects of the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissue of the oral and maxillofacial region. Endodontics is the study and treatment of the dental pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth.

If you need a root canal, you'll likely be referred to an endodontist, a dentist whose practice is limited to this type of specialty care.

Patients who need braces often see an orthodontist. Prosthodontists specialize in constructing and fitting prosthetic devices. The prostheses may be needed to replace teeth that have been lost and include dentures, bridges and implants. A doctoral degree is required to become a dentist. Unlike dental laboratory technicians who construct dental models, prosthodontists construct the actual prostheses that go in a patient's mouth.

To determine which patients need dental appliances, they look for abnormalities such as misaligned teeth or jaws. They examine patients' wisdom teeth and remove any impacted, damaged, or non-restorable teeth. They also operate to prepare patients for larger dental appliances.

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