Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between general dentists and oral surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an oral surgeon has an average salary of $427,828, which is higher than the $147,636 average annual salary of a general dentist.
The top three skills for a general dentist include patients, patient care and treatment planning. The most important skills for an oral surgeon are patients, patient care, and dental care.
| General Dentist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $147,636 | $427,828 |
| Hourly rate | $70.98 | $205.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 48,612 | 23,387 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
The primary job of general dentists is to diagnose, treat, and manage patients' oral health care needs, including root canals, fillings, and gum care. They are considered as the main dental care providers for both children and adults. General dentists typically perform a few tasks, including performing regular dental examinations and teeth cleanings, ensuring patients receive an appropriate and timely treatment for their dental issues and performing cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and cosmetic bonding.
Oral Surgeons consult with patients and analyze patient information to determine the patient's requirements and treatment objectives. They plan treatments by partnering with other professionals like orthodontists and restorative dentists. These professionals record patients' care by keeping comprehensive patient appointment notes relating to test results, prescribed treatments, prescribed tests, and comments. Besides administering local anesthetics and general anesthetics, where necessary, oral surgeons also prescribe medication that can control pain after surgical procedures and improve patient recovery.
General dentists and oral surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Dentist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $147,636 | $427,828 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $219,000 | Between $213,000 And $856,000 |
| Highest paying City | Haverhill, MA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Berkshire | SEARHC |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a general dentist and an oral surgeon in terms of educational background:
| General Dentist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between general dentists' and oral surgeons' demographics:
| General Dentist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% | Male, 25.2% Female, 74.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 23.4% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 17.4% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |