As a dentist, your services are in high demand. The American Dental Association reported that the demand for dental services will increase by more than 20% between 2020 and 2025. There’s never been a better time to become a dentist. However, it may not be an easy decision for you. Why? Let’s explore why some people don’t choose to pursue dentistry as a career, along with the top 5 reasons why you should consider becoming one.
Becoming a dentist is an investment – Not an immediate Payout with dentistry
Many people may wonder why they should put themselves through the rigorous training and time commitment that becoming a dentist requires. After all, it’s not like becoming a dental professional will make you rich right away, right? Well, no. It’s true that you won’t be making the big bucks right away. However, becoming a dentist is an investment in your future. Dentistry is not just about imparting dental services, it’s much more. Its a management of clinical, financial and legal practices.

By making the decision to pursue a dental career, you are investing in your long-term financial future. In fact, the average salary for a dentist is nearly $160,000 per year. Why? Well, as you’ll see below, various factors tend to make dentistry a very well-paying career. So, although you won’t see a huge pay-check right out of the gate, the long-term payoff for your investment is significant. Dental services are getting more expensive each year with higher material and fixed costs.
Dental care or Dentistry is in high demand
There is a shortage of dentists in the United States. In fact, the American Dental Association has declared a “dental care shortage”. This means dental offices will have difficulty finding enough dentists to meet the need for dental care. This shortage of dentists means that your services will likely be in high demand in the future. As a dentist, you can expect to find plenty of work to keep you busy.

You will be able to see patients on a consistent basis, allowing you to earn a consistent, reliable income. When people have access to dental care, they tend to stay healthier. This is good for our country, since health care is expensive. By providing more people with dental care, you can help lower the amount of money our country spends on health care.
Dentistry tends to be well-paying for new Graduates
Dentists are among the top 10 highest-paid professions. Despite the fact that dental services don’t immediately make a ton of money, the profession tends to be well-paying overall. Why? Well, first of all, becoming a dentist is a long-term career commitment. You won’t start seeing large paychecks right away. Instead, you will be gradually increasing your earnings over the long term as you build your career.

Second, dentists are a relatively rare profession. This means that dental offices will have to compete for the small number of dentists that are available. In order to attract the best dentists, dental offices will have to raise their salary offers above average. As a new dentist, you’ll be able to take advantage of this salary boost.
You can help people stay healthy and happy
When you become a dentist, your primary goal will be to help people improve their oral health. You will help people avoid cavities, periodontal disease, and other problems related to their teeth and gums. Doing so means that you can help people avoid going through a root canal, getting a tooth extraction, and other costly oral health procedures. By providing dental care, you can help people remain happy and healthy. In addition, you can help prevent gum disease, which is a leading cause of death in adults. By helping people avoid these outcomes, you can positively impact millions of lives in a very direct and personal way.
Becoming a dentist is a sliver of your life commitment
Becoming a dentist is a long-term commitment. This makes it a much more serious decision than deciding to go to school for a two-year or four-year degree. However, it is still a short-term commitment in comparison to many other career paths. You could spend your entire life as a dentist and only spend a sliver of your life in the profession. This makes becoming a dentist an easy decision to make, while still offering you a long-term financial benefit.
Conclusion
When you become a dentist, you have the opportunity to positively impact millions of people’s lives. You can help people avoid costly dental procedures and improve their oral health. In addition, you can enjoy a long-term career with excellent pay. So, if you want to make a real difference for people, consider becoming a dentist. Now that you know why some people don’t choose to pursue dentistry as a career, along with the top 5 reasons why you should consider becoming one, there’s no better time than now to explore your options.