How much money do dentists make?

There are several areas within the dental field. A general dentist can make close to $170,000 a year, but these are dentists who worked under another dentist. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgeries on the mouth and jaw to correct defects, to treat problems or to improve the way the teeth function.

These surgeons make just over $210,000 a year. Your average orthodontist who cleans teeth, does minor extractions, and corrects the overall appearance and function of the teeth makes just over $200,000 a year. Then, prosthodontists are specialist that focus on restoring missing teeth and oral structures so that the teeth can function. This group of dentists make just over $80,000 a year.

Finally, there are specialist within this profession that earn up to $200,000 depending on their skill and area of focus. Dentist’s salaries vary depending on their specialization with people who work for the government earning substantially less than those going into private practice.