Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
What Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin as an associate dentist in a private practice. You’ll spend your days working directly with patients: performing check-ups, using precision drills to fill cavities, and creating treatment plans. As you build experience, you can specialize. You might become an orthodontist, using pliers and digital scanners to straighten teeth with braces and aligners, or an oral surgeon, performing complex procedures like dental implants and jaw surgery in a clinical setting.
The path to advancement is clear. After a few years, many dentists become partners or open their own practice, managing a business while caring for patients. This step, or pursuing a specialty, offers a route to the highest earnings and most complex cases. Demand is steady for these skilled roles, from general dentistry to teaching the next generation at a postsecondary level. This is hands-on work that requires a human touch and dexterity that can't be automated or done from a remote office, ensuring your skills remain essential.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 2 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Community Health Worker
RAPIDS 2002CB |
Competency | Competency | $50K – $63,000 – $84K | 4.5% |
|
Community Health Worker
RAPIDS 2002HY |
2000-2200 hrs | Hybrid | $50K – $63,000 – $84K | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
60 59–61 |
$220,594/yr | 32.9x |
Highest Earning Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences Programs
Schools where Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | $220,594/yr | 60 |
Best ROI for Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | 32.9x | $220,594/yr | 60 |
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