Orthodontists and dentofacial orthopedists earned the highest annual average net income out of dental specialists in private practice in 2023, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Dentists averaged over 3,616 patient visits in 2023, a slight drop from the more than 3,798 average visits dentists had in 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The median net income for general practitioners in private practice was $185,360 in 2023, a high mark, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The average monthly premium for dental insurance is $38.08 in Arkansas, the lowest-ranked state for dental health.

Private practice dentists spent an average of more than 1,750 hours in dental practices in 2023 the highest average since 2000, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Nearly 30% of dentists said they were "not busy enough" with their workload in 2023, an increase of more than 8% from 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The average hourly gross billings for solo dentists in private practice was $572 per practice hour in 2023, an increase over $539 per hour in 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The average net income of private practice dentists is $245,060, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The average monthly premium for dental insurance is $42.17 in Illinois, the top-ranked state for dental health.

Dentists can earn an average of $216,280 in Washington, the highest-paying state for dentists on the West Coast, compared to $234,670 in Maryland, the highest-paying state on the East Coast.

There are currently 6,842 dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. 

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn about $173.79 per hour in North Carolina, the state with the highest average hourly wage for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, compared to the state's minimum wage of $7.25.

West Virginia is the most expensive state for dental insurance, according to a new ranking from LV Dental Braces.

Orthodontists earn about $158.47 per hour in Michigan, the state with the highest average hourly wage for orthodontists, compared to the state's minimum wage of $10.33.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is one of several physician specialties that saw the largest increase in average annual compensation between 2022 and 2023, according to Doximity's 2024 Physician Compensation Report.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the fifth highest-paying physician specialty in the U.S., according to Doximity's 2024 Physician Compensation Report.

Dental assistants earn about $30.17 per hour in Minnesota, the state with the highest average hourly wage for dental assistants, compared to the state's minimum wage of $8.85.

The average annual salary for dental professions, including dentists, dental hygienists and orthodontists, vary widely from state to state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The average annual salary for specialty dentists has fluctuated over the past five years, rising from $178,040 in 2019 to $244,470 in 2023, a total increase of more than $66,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Dental laboratory technicians earn the most in Massachusetts, where the annual wage for the occupation is $62,180, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.