Career Theme: Investigative

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and problem solving.

Dentist

Necessary Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master’s degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Special Training Required: Certification is needed. Some states require registration or licensure in addition to certification.

Prerequisite experience needed: Dental school for four years with an internship after four years of college is required.

Job Responsibilities: Dentists 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. They also treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.

Industry Trend: The future for dentists remains incredibly bright. Most dental schools still have the luxury of choosing students from highly talented and intellectually blessed candidates. General dentistry was ranked by U.S. News and World Report respectively in 2015 and 2016 as the #1 and #2 career, with orthodontics displacing general dentistry in 2016.

Typical Salary Range: $69,210 – $208,000 (source from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2017)