Orthopedic surgeon vs dental surgeon

The differences between orthopedic surgeons and dental surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an orthopedic surgeon and a dental surgeon. Additionally, a dental surgeon has an average salary of $279,537, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.

The top three skills for an orthopedic surgeon include patients, spine and EMR. The most important skills for a dental surgeon are patients, diagnosis, and dental clinic.

Orthopedic surgeon vs dental surgeon overview

	Orthopedic Surgeon	Dental Surgeon
Yearly salary	$137,571	$279,537
Hourly rate	$66.14	$134.39
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	5,046	32,596
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	6	6

What does an orthopedic surgeon do?

An orthopedic surgeon specializes in performing surgeries to treat different issues concerning a patient's musculoskeletal system. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting extensive examinations on a patient to determine their condition, analyzing their medical records, coordinating with nurses and other specialists to ensure the accuracy of treatments, and maintaining a thorough record of information. Records include appointments, comments, and results. There are also instances when a surgeon must refer patients to therapists and provide advice for post-surgery care. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor a patient's condition before and after surgery.

What does a dental surgeon do?

A Dental Surgeon performs surgery on various parts of the head, neck, and mouth. They perform repairs on injuries due to facial trauma, reconstruction to correct birth defects, and treatment of various diseases.

Orthopedic surgeon vs dental surgeon salary

Orthopedic surgeons and dental surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Orthopedic Surgeon	Dental Surgeon
Average salary	$137,571	$279,537
Salary range	Between $73,000 And $257,000	Between $150,000 And $517,000
Highest paying City	Brockton, MA	-
Highest paying state	Maine	-
Best paying company	Trinity Health	-
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between orthopedic surgeon and dental surgeon education

There are a few differences between an orthopedic surgeon and a dental surgeon in terms of educational background:

	Orthopedic Surgeon	Dental Surgeon
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Nursing	Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences
Most common college	New York University	University of Southern California

Orthopedic surgeon vs dental surgeon demographics

Here are the differences between orthopedic surgeons' and dental surgeons' demographics:

	Orthopedic Surgeon	Dental Surgeon
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9%	Male, 39.5% Female, 60.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between orthopedic surgeon and dental surgeon duties and responsibilities

Orthopedic surgeon example responsibilities.

Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
Handle medical billing, medical transcription, and medical billing.
Perform surgical procedures of the foot and ankle in both a hospital and surgery center setting.
Provide conservative and surgical care of foot and ankle relate medical conditions for children and adults.
Register and interview patients for purpose of compiling medical history and record keeping.
Perform laparoscopic surgery on regular basis (cholecystectomy, appendectomy, gynecological surgery).

Dental surgeon example responsibilities.

Manage early and moderate periodontal disease, evaluate the results of periodontal treatment and establish maintenance program.
Work collaboratively with other professionals to create effective treatment for the patients.
Research on tobacco induce oral cancers and diagnose and perform surgical treatments on oral cancer patients.
General dentistry focuse on restorative, minor surgeries and open method extractions, removable prosthetics, endodontics, non-surgical periodontics
Review A/R report & outstanding claim for follow up with office manager at EOM.

Orthopedic surgeon vs dental surgeon skills

Common orthopedic surgeon skills

Patients, 31%
Spine, 15%
EMR, 11%
Sports Medicine, 10%
Patient Care, 8%
Private Practice, 7%

Common dental surgeon skills

Patients, 33%
Diagnosis, 10%
Dental Clinic, 9%
Surgical Extractions, 5%
Oral Surgery, 5%
Surgical Procedures, 4%

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Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic Surgeon vs Dental Surgeon

Updated January 8, 2025

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