With an 18% projected job growth from 2014 to 2024, it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing dentistry as a career path. As the population ages, cosmetic dental services get increasingly popular, and insurance access grows, dentists are a hot employment prospect.
The great pay helps too.
And Americans need dentists; somewhere around 74% of Americans have some form of periodontal disease, according to the CDC. It might not be full meningitis, but tender or sore gums are not rare among the U.S. population.
But is dentistry really the best job in the U.S?
Not according to some people. However, there are ways to make it the best, says Louis Malcmacher, DDS, MAGD.
“Dentists are very well compensated for the services they provide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dentists earned a median salary of $152,700 in 2015. The best-paid earned more than $187,200, while the lowest-paid earned less than $68,310,” said Malcmacher.
According to Malcmacher, there is a demand growing for cosmetic procedures, and many dentists are not tapping into that. Those dentists are making much less than $150,000 a year, and they have high levels of stress and may be completely bored in their offices. They don’t have any passion for their job anymore.
The solution? Getting more patients that are interested in cosmetic procedures, and becoming part of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE). There you can get live-patient courses in Botox, thread-lifts, dermal fillers, and more.
These could, according to Malcmacher, make an impact on the kind of work life and pay that the average dentist has. Taking these courses could take a dull, ordinary, work day with average clients and turn it into something new and refreshing.
“I can tell you firsthand that AAFE members are among the happiest, most accomplished, and well-compensated dental professionals with salaries significantly higher than the BLS statistics. They love what they do, are never bored, and are excited to go to the office every day. We truly can have the best job in the United States!” said Malcmacher.