Dentist Salary Guide: How Much Can You Earn in Dentistry?

Thinking about a career in dentistry? Or maybe you're already a practising dentist looking to take the next step and you’re curious about your earning potential?

This guide takes a deep dive into dentist salaries, exploring how they vary based on several factors such as experience, specialisation, and location.

Of course, depending on whether you work in the public or private sector, your income can differ significantly. Our aim is to help you understand what you can expect to earn and share some strategies to help you boost your income.

So, let's dig in and uncover what affects your paycheck and how you can maximise your earnings as a dentist.

What we'll cover

• How much do NHS dentists earn?
• How much can private dentists earn?
• Factors influencing dentist salaries
• How to earn more as a dentist

Quick overview

Dentist salaries vary widely based on factors like experience, specialisation, and location. NHS dentists follow a structured pay scale, earning £36,288 during dental foundation training, with potential salaries ranging from £47,000 to over £100,000 depending on experience and responsibilities. 

Private dentists can earn significantly more, with some making between £130,000 and £200,000. This is especially the case if they specialise in high-demand areas such as cosmetic dentistry or oral surgery.

Transitioning to private practice, focusing on specialisations, and implementing effective marketing strategies can further boost a dentist's income. However, this needs to be weighed up against factors such as work life balance, job security and other key career considerations.

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NHS dentist salaries are determined by a structured pay scale, which considers factors like your experience, position and geographical location. Dentists in training or starting their careers in the NHS typically earn a set basic salary, which goes up as they gain experience and take on more responsibilities.

Newly qualified dentists who want to work in the NHS must do dental foundation training for one year. As of April 2022, the annual salary for this is £36,288. After you complete this training, you can either choose to work in a dental practice or start your dental core training. Dental core trainees can expect to earn between £43,923 and £55,329.

The jury is out on the pay packet for more qualified dentists, as your earning potential varies massively. According to Indeed, the average base salary for dentists in the UK is around £75,000. Whereas from Prospects website, it looks like you could earn between £47,000 and £100,000+, which is quite a big gap.

While the salaries might vary, being an NHS dentist comes with some perks. NHS dentists benefit from the NHS Pension Scheme, which is one of the most generous in the UK. You’ll also be entitled to more paid leave the longer you stay with the NHS, as well as opportunities for professional development and discretionary bonuses.

As a private dentist in the UK, your earnings can vary widely based on factors such as location, level of experience, patient base and the types of services you offer.

Private dentists can make as much as £130,000, and in some cases more in the £170,000 - £200,000 scale.

If you’re hoping to specialise in something, your earning potential increases even more. For example, if you choose to specialise in oral surgery, endodontics or periodontics, you could take home a much bigger paycheck.

One of the best things about being a private dentist is that you can grow your earnings through extra revenue streams, like selling dental products, running courses and training, or providing aesthetic services like Botox.

Experience and specialisation

As with most professions, the more experience you have, and the more specialised you are, the greater your earning potential.

Newly qualified dentists typically earn less, as they’ve only just started building their patient base and gaining practical experience. Mid-career dentists with 5 to 10 years of experience usually see a noticeable increase in salary as they earn themselves a solid reputation and a loyal patient base. When you have over 10 years of experience, earnings can become substantial – particularly if you’ve built up a wide network of referrals.

Specialisation also plays a crucial role in determining your salary. Dentists who specialise in orthodontics, for example, can charge higher fees due to the complexity of the task, as well as the demand for teeth and jaw alignment services. Similarly, implantology specialists, who focus on dental implants, generally earn more because of the advanced skills required for this type of work.

Plus, there’s advanced certifications and professional memberships to consider. Take courses and pursue more in-depth studies to enhance experience levels, and these credentials help to demonstrate your expertise and commitment to professional development, making you more attractive to patients seeking high-quality dental care.

Geographic location

Location, location, location. It’s a big factor affecting your salary as a dentist, due to variations in cost of living, patient demographics and demand for dental services across different regions.

In metropolitan areas like London, dentists often charge higher salaries compared to those in rural areas. This is largely because the cost of living in London is higher, necessitating higher wages to maintain a decent standard of living. London also has a dense and diverse population, leading to a greater demand for dental services. There’s a higher concentration of wealthier clients who can afford private dental care, which boosts potential earnings for dentists in the city.

Other major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh also offer higher salary potentials for dentists. These urban centres have large populations, strong economies and higher living costs, all of which contribute to increased dental fees and salaries.

It’s no surprise that dentists in rural areas are likely to earn less. While the cost of living is generally lower in these regions, patients might not have as much disposable income to spend on private dental care. And the demand for specialised dental services may be lower, limiting opportunities for dentists to earn higher fees.

Although, some rural areas with limited access to dental care may offer competitive salaries to attract qualified dentists. These positions often come with additional benefits such as relocation assistance, housing allowances or performance bonuses, making them even more desirable.

Transitioning to private practice

Moving to private practice can significantly boost your earnings and offer lots of appealing benefits. Here’s a quick guide for making the switch:

Advantages of having a private practice:

Earn more money

Working in a private practice means you get to set your own prices and offer specialised services like cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. You could increase your income further by providing high-fee treatments.

Be autonomous

One of the biggest benefits of private practice is the decision-making power. Manage your practice’s operations, services and policies just as you’d like to. Offering personalised treatment plans and spending more time with each patient can help to build your reputation as a dentist who cares.

Enjoy complete flexibility

You’re more likely to have a work-life balance, too. Set your own schedule to balance work with personal life, so you can go on holiday whenever you like. Create a work environment that suits your preferences and values, carefully hiring the right team as you go.

What to consider when starting your own practice

Kick things off with a robust business plan. Develop a plan outlining your vision, target market, services and financial projections to show investors you’re prepared for every outcome.

Think about where you want your practice to be. It’s important to choose a location with high demand and patient affordability if you want to be successful. Working in a professional and well-equipped environment can really enhance people’s perception of you and attract a higher-paying clientele. At UNTIL, our design-led dental surgeries are kitted out with top of the range equipment, creating a brilliant experience for both practitioners and patients.

Don’t forget about financing. Secure funding through loans or investors to cover the setup costs (unless you can cover these yourself).

Make sure your practice meets all legal and regulatory requirements – you don’t want to get off on the wrong foot. Especially when it comes to insurance: dental indemnity insurance is essential for safeguarding professional reputation and assets.

Once your practice is up and running, ****stay updated with the latest dental advancements to help you offer cutting-edge services. Technology is having a huge impact on dental innovation, so consider staying abreast of the news and investing in the latest equipment where possible.

Specialising in high-demand areas

Specialising in a dental niche is one way to earn more as a dentist. Cosmetic dentistry, for example, offers high-demand services like teeth whitening and veneers, allowing for premium pricing. Implantology, on the other hand, involves complex procedures with high fees, attracting an increasing market due to an ageing population. Paediatric dentistry provides specialised care for children, leading to loyal, long-term clients.

Each specialisation enables higher fees, repeat business and a less competitive niche. So further education in these fields could be a worthwhile investment.

You can also take home more money by specialising in endodontics (root canals and tooth pulp treatments), periodontics (gum diseases and conditions), oral surgery, and prosthodontics (dental prostheses such as crowns and dentures). This is because fewer dentists offer these services, so there’s likely to be greater demand.

Maximising income in private practice

Marketing your private dental practice requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a strong online presence.

Your website should be professional, user-friendly, and optimised for search engines (SEO) to make sure potential patients can easily find you. Including features like online appointment booking, patient testimonials and detailed information about services can significantly enhance the user experience.

Try to have active profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, as this can help you engage with the community, share educational content and promote special offers.

Regularly updating your blog with tips on dental care and the latest treatments can also establish your practice as an authority in the field, attracting more patients who are looking for an experienced dentist.

Patient referrals are another crucial strategy for growing your patient base. Encouraging satisfied patients to refer friends and family can be really effective. Why not implement a referral program with incentives, such as discounts on future services, to motivate patients to spread the word about your practice?

Community engagement is equally important, particularly if you’re based somewhere rural. You could participate in local events, sponsor community activities or offer free dental check-ups to increase your visibility and build trust within the community.

By building relationships with local businesses and health professionals, you can create a network that supports and refers patients to your practice. Combining these strategies is a great way to boost your practice's reputation and patient acquisition efforts.

Discover your earning potential with UNTIL

Understanding the key factors influencing your salary is key to boosting it. This could be through exploring opportunities in private practice, opting to specialise in your preferred area, or even making use of high-quality dental rooms at UNTIL.

If you want to make the transition to self-employment or freelance dentistry, UNTIL can help you grow your business. Our clinic is fully CQC registered so all dentists working from UNTIL can work under our registration. You simply pay a fee to rent our rooms, all fitted with DS Sirona Intego chairs, scanners and a roof mounted TV screen with Netflix. You can rely on our design-led rooms and high-quality facilities to contribute to your professional image, patient satisfaction and practice growth.

Ready to take your dental practice to the next level with UNTIL? Apply to join from just £74.67/hour.

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