The average total income for full-time dental assistants hit a three-year high in 2024, reaching $47,440, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

Fifty percent of hygienists were satisfied or very satisfied with their total compensation in 2024, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

States in the Pacific region of the U.S. paid the highest in total income for hygienists, with an average salary of $98,910, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

The average total income of hygienists hit an all-time high of $81,627 in 2024, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

Orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon and dentist were ranked among the highest-paying healthcare jobs in 2025 by U.S. News and World Report.

Overall job satisfaction was "lukewarm" among associate dentists in 2024, with 45.8% of associate dentists reporting satisfaction in Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

Thirty-seven percent of associate dentists at private practices and DSOs were satisfied or very satisfied with their benefits in 2024, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

Fifty-seven percent of dentist-owners indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with their total compensation in 2024, compared to 44.9% of associate dentists, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

Dental hygienist was recently ranked among the top 10 best healthcare jobs in the U.S. for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.

The average income for dentist owners increased by 9% between 2023 and 2024, according to Dentalpost's 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.

More than 90% of dentists support community water fluoridation as a public health measure, according to a survey from the American Dental Association.

Staffing shortages, insurance issues and increasing expenses are the biggest obstacles facing dental practices in 2025, according to a survey from the American Dental Association.

Dentists displayed higher confidence levels in the economic conditions of their own dental practice, the dental care sector and the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter of 2024 than the third quarter. 

Nearly 50% of owner dentists are likely to add staff at their practice in 2025, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Dentists can earn an average of $227,200 each year in Delaware, the state with the fewest dental professional shortage areas.

Dentists can earn an average of $181,720 each year in California, the state with the most dental professional shortage areas.

More than 24 million Americans live in dental care shortage areas, according to a Dec. 23 study published by JAMA Network.

Dental spending in the U.S. increased by $4 billion between 2022 and 2023, according to data from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute.

Delaware currently has the fewest dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration.

California currently has the most dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration.