Dentist Employment

Dentists held about 141,900 jobs in 2008. Employment was distributed among general practitioners and specialists as follows:

Approximately 15 percent of all dentists were specialists. About 28 percent of dentists were self-employed and not incorporated. Very few salaried dentists worked in hospitals and offices of physicians. Almost all dentists work in private practice. According to the American Dental Association, about 3 out of 4 dentists in private practice are solo proprietors, and almost 15 percent belonged to a partnership.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition