Dentists, General
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
At a Glance
Dentists, General earns a median of $172,790/yr with +4.1% projected growth. Typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree. Top skills: Attention to Detail, Medicine and Dentistry, Dependability.
$172,790/yr
+4.1%
4
Doctoral or professional degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (17)
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Knowledge (6)
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Abilities (21)
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Technology (4)
Work Activities (34)
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Work Styles (4)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Dental Hygienists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · 195 shared skills
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Office and Administrative Support · 190 shared skills
Dental Assistants
Healthcare Support · 190 shared skills
Patient Representatives
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · 189 shared skills
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Healthcare Support · 189 shared skills
Billing and Posting Clerks
Office and Administrative Support · 189 shared skills
Office Clerks, General
Office and Administrative Support · 188 shared skills
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal · 188 shared skills
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