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The differences between dental technicians and dentists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dentist has an average salary of $147,415, which is higher than the $68,232 average annual salary of a dental technician.
The top three skills for a dental technician include patients, dentures and dental care. The most important skills for a dentist are patients, diagnosis, and DDS.
| Dental Technician | Dentist | |
| Yearly salary | $68,232 | $147,415 |
| Hourly rate | $32.80 | $70.87 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 45,536 | 8,570 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Dental Technicians manufacture dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures in accordance with the dentist's specifications. They are also responsible for replacing, repairing, or modifying full or partial dentures.
Dentists are physicians specializing in oral health. The main responsibilities of dentists are to diagnose oral diseases and treat them with the help of different equipment and technologies. They manage to provide several services like tooth repair, cavities removal, teeth whitening, fillings, crowns, bridges, and even surgical procedures. They also help promote oral care by participating in community outreach and awareness programs. Sometimes, they would also conduct lectures and seminars for preventive education.
Dental technicians and dentists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Technician | Dentist | |
| Average salary | $68,232 | $147,415 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $115,000 | Between $99,000 And $218,000 |
| Highest paying City | Columbia, MD | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Private Practice | The Primary Health Network |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dental technician and a dentist in terms of educational background:
| Dental Technician | Dentist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between dental technicians' and dentists' demographics:
| Dental Technician | Dentist | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4% | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 22.0% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 12% |