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The differences between general dentists and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general dentist has an average salary of $147,636, which is higher than the $58,013 average annual salary of a specialist.
The top three skills for a general dentist include patients, patient care and treatment planning. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| General Dentist | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $147,636 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $70.98 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 48,612 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
General dentists and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Dentist | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $147,636 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $219,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Haverhill, MA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Berkshire | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a general dentist and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| General Dentist | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between general dentists' and specialists' demographics:
| General Dentist | Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |