by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Advanced General Dentistry explores Advanced General Dentistry. A Program That Focuses On The Advanced Study Of Dental Clinical Techniques And Dental Practice Issues. Includes Instruction In Subjects Such As The History Of Dentistry, Advanced Dental Practice Management, Dental Ethics And Jurisprudence, Social And Behavioral Science Studies Of Dentistry, Advanced Restorative Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Oral Radiology, Advanced Clinical Procedures And Technology, And Others. Examples: [Advanced General Dentistry (Cert.)], [Advanced General Dentistry (Ms)], [Advanced General Dentistry (Phd)]. Read on to learn the important information every advanced general dentistry student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering advanced general dentistry programs.
Nationwide, advanced general dentistry is a widely-pursued major, with 238 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Advanced General Dentistry Schools ranking analyzes these 18 schools to determine the best overall colleges for advanced general dentistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of advanced general dentistry programs later in this article.
Programs in Advanced General Dentistry develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations advanced general dentistry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a advanced general dentistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a advanced general dentistry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several advanced general dentistry degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 238 |
People currently working in careers related to advanced general dentistry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in advanced general dentistry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in advanced general dentistry can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to advanced general dentistry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to advanced general dentistry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists, General | 2,950,097 | 1.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of advanced general dentistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $209,489 |
| 4 years | $191,956 |
| 5 years | $225,886 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for advanced general dentistry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers advanced general dentistry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $157,602 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 18 different advanced general dentistry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased advanced general dentistry school rankings to help you.
Those considering advanced general dentistry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
