Dental Salaries

Income, Gross Billings, and Expenses: Selected 2016 Results from the Survey of Dental Practice (Tables in Excel)
Table of Contents
Income
Table 1: Annual Net Income of Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 2: Median Annual Net Income of Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 3: Annual Net Income of Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 4: Median Annual Net Income of Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Gross Billings
Table 5: Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 6: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 7: Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 8: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 9: Gross Billings Per Hour, Per Visit for Solo Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 10: Median Gross Billings Per Hour, Per Visit for Solo Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 11: Sources of Gross Billings of Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 12: Sources of Gross Billings of Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Expenses
Table 13: Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 14: Median Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner General Practitioners in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 15: Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Table 16: Median Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 - 2016
Table 17: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2016
Table 18: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2002 - 2016
Table 19: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings Collected, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2016
Table 20: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings Collected, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2002 - 2016
Appendix
Employment situation
Methodology
Glossary
Survey Instrument
Table 1: Annual Net Income of Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Return to Table of Contents
Standard Number of
Type of Dentist Average 1st quartile Median 3rd quartile
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
General Practitioners
All owners 199,990 110,000 180,000 250,000 124,290 906
Solo 180,260 100,000 156,000 230,000 115,300 632
Nonsolo 239,980 150,000 215,000 300,000 132,000 274
Employed 150,580 100,000 145,000 183,000 64,660 118
All General Practitioners 188,580 105,000 170,000 244,000 116,960 1,063
Specialists
All owners 377,970 180,000 298,000 500,000 307,500 438
Solo 359,840 160,000 250,000 450,000 320,890 285
Nonsolo 415,190 200,000 350,000 520,000 274,280 153
Employed 189,490 115,000 170,000 250,000 93,630 54
All Specialists 333,540 150,000 250,000 400,000 289,280 528
All Dentists
All owners 240,130 120,000 200,000 300,000 197,030 1,344
Solo 220,890 105,000 180,000 260,000 198,070 917
Nonsolo 279,230 159,000 240,000 350,000 188,960 427
Employed 157,690 106,000 150,000 186,000 72,410 172
All Dentists 221,590 113,000 180,000 265,000 182,520 1,591
Source: American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2017 Survey of Dental Practice.
Copyright © 2017 American Dental Association.
Note: All results are weighted. For details, see Methodology section.
Table 2: Median Annual Net Income of Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 80,000 141,660 140,440 150,000 150,000 155,510 172,000 165,000 180,000 175,000 170,000
Solo 78,000 129,000 130,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 160,000 150,000 175,000 160,000 165,000
Nonsolo 90,000 160,650 200,000 173,000 175,000 180,000 200,000 183,000 200,000 200,000 197,210
Employed 40,000 75,500 94,000 88,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 120,000 110,000 115,000 110,000
All General
76,000 130,000 130,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 158,990 150,000 160,000 160,000 154,720
Practitioners
Specialists
All owners 125,000 220,000 219,540 250,000 250,000 272,500 258,000 298,280 300,000 285,000 250,000
Solo 115,000 200,000 200,000 225,000 230,000 250,000 250,000 260,000 275,000 250,000 239,000
Nonsolo 140,000 254,450 258,000 320,000 300,000 320,000 305,000 345,000 350,000 350,000 300,000
Employed --* -- -- 140,000 -- -- 120,000 -- 175,000 180,000 160,000
All Specialists 120,000 210,000 200,000 220,000 250,000 260,000 250,000 260,000 280,000 272,000 248,220
All Dentists
All owners 85,000 150,000 150,000 162,810 169,370 170,000 180,000 180,000 190,000 185,000 180,000
Solo 80,000 141,000 140,000 151,000 160,000 160,000 172,000 175,000 180,000 170,000 170,000
Nonsolo 100,000 175,000 205,000 192,250 200,000 200,000 225,290 210,000 220,000 230,000 210,240
Employed 40,000 79,000 92,000 90,000 105,000 115,000 100,000 120,000 110,000 120,000 115,000
All Dentists 80,000 146,000 140,000 150,000 160,000 159,590 168,000 175,000 180,000 170,000 167,550
Source: American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, Surveys of Dental Practice.
* There were too few observations to allow for reliable statistical analysis.
Table 2: Median Annual Net Income of Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 180,000 175,000 170,000 172,000 160,000 172,000 180,000
Solo 170,000 155,700 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 156,000
Nonsolo 200,000 220,000 208,000 220,000 200,000 200,000 215,000
Employed 110,000 120,000 100,000 120,000 130,000 121,000 145,000
All General
170,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 170,000
Practitioners
Specialists
All owners 254,000 280,000 253,560 250,000 290,000 300,000 298,000
Solo 216,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000
Nonsolo 325,000 350,000 300,000 320,000 350,000 367,000 350,000
Employed 170,000 200,000 150,000 180,000 175,000 -- 170,000
All Specialists 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000
All Dentists
All owners 190,000 190,000 185,000 182,000 180,000 185,000 200,000
Solo 180,000 173,000 160,000 161,000 160,000 175,000 180,000
Nonsolo 230,000 235,000 225,000 225,000 228,000 225,000 240,000
Employed 120,000 120,000 108,000 130,000 140,000 130,000 150,000
All Dentists 180,000 170,000 162,000 170,000 170,000 161,460 180,000
Table 3: Annual Net Income of Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 518,520 275,000 400,000 700,000 360,720 101
Endodontists 343,620 180,000 265,000 400,000 340,840 76
Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists 323,050 150,000 200,000 400,000 277,570 140
Pediatric Dentists 278,330 150,000 220,000 340,000 205,950 92
Periodontists 266,500 132,350 250,000 391,000 178,750 88
Prosthodontists --* -- -- -- -- 28
Table 4: Median Annual Net Income of Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 130,000 260,000 270,000 271,670 300,000 360,000 320,690 365,000 350,000
Endodontists 130,000 245,000 250,000 275,000 250,000 270,000 265,000 300,000 300,000
Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists 117,000 220,000 215,000 190,000 240,000 250,000 250,000 212,000 280,000
Pediatric Dentists 113,500 228,790 200,000 205,000 295,000 260,000 250,000 285,000 260,000
Periodontists 122,000 172,000 175,000 205,000 200,000 220,000 200,900 220,000 200,000
Prosthodontists 82,000 125,000 150,000 --* 200,000 212,000 160,000 -- 180,000
Table 4: Median Annual Net Income of Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Endodontists 300,000 250,000 330,000 320,000 250,000 250,000 290,000 300,000 265,000
Periodontists 235,000 200,000 180,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 280,000 250,000
Prosthodontists 200,000 155,000 -- -- -- 150,000 175,000 200,000 --
Table 5: Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
All owners 655,790 390,000 600,000 860,000 363,020 796
Solo 667,940 380,000 620,000 900,000 379,840 553
Nonsolo 631,050 409,940 600,000 800,000 324,680 243
Specialists
All owners 1,061,500 540,000 950,000 1,337,250 742,090 381
Solo 1,144,960 600,000 1,000,000 1,450,000 788,500 249
Nonsolo 894,290 416,670 800,000 1,113,960 605,360 132
All Dentists
All owners 748,130 401,870 655,800 953,000 506,030 1,177
Solo 776,060 400,000 680,000 1,000,000 540,720 802
Nonsolo 691,480 412,500 600,000 880,730 421,420 375
Table 6: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 220,280 380,000 404,170 425,000 449,960 465,000 528,390 505,000 530,000 550,000 542,370
Solo 227,160 400,000 430,000 450,000 480,000 480,000 550,000 541,000 575,390 590,000 600,000
Nonsolo 200,000 344,950 362,740 390,000 375,000 433,950 492,500 452,000 455,000 491,670 477,500
Specialists
All owners 313,750 533,330 600,000 576,070 605,000 675,000 700,000 700,000 800,000 778,000 750,000
Solo 322,500 542,000 570,000 587,860 618,000 700,000 710,000 750,000 845,270 786,000 790,000
Nonsolo 300,000 500,000 600,000 555,000 600,000 602,500 625,000 650,000 745,000 732,500 705,160
All Dentists
All owners 230,000 400,000 433,330 450,000 476,000 496,310 550,000 550,000 574,000 590,000 581,860
Solo 237,790 415,150 450,000 471,620 500,000 500,000 562,400 591,580 600,000 606,060 611,500
Nonsolo 215,080 366,010 400,000 400,000 406,000 460,000 500,000 490,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Table 6: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 560,000 550,000 584,200 600,000 600,000 575,000 600,000
Solo 600,000 576,000 600,000 600,000 628,050 600,000 620,000
Nonsolo 486,960 520,000 533,330 550,000 550,000 533,330 600,000
Specialists
All owners 710,000 833,330 800,000 800,000 820,000 975,000 950,000
Solo 770,000 850,000 850,000 840,000 870,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Nonsolo 650,000 750,000 750,000 666,670 716,670 905,000 800,000
All Dentists
All owners 590,000 600,000 616,560 610,000 650,000 640,000 655,800
Solo 600,000 600,000 640,000 632,880 667,000 660,000 680,000
Nonsolo 521,430 550,000 582,500 598,750 600,000 600,000 600,000
Table 7: Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 1,560,240 1,012,000 1,400,000 2,100,000 918,110 87
Endodontists 879,970 450,000 800,000 1,100,000 670,170 44
Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists 1,014,850 445,000 928,400 1,337,250 678,350 103
Pediatric Dentists 844,720 400,000 750,000 1,061,770 488,740 61
Periodontists 943,300 560,000 900,000 1,200,000 551,370 63
Table 8: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 323,750 650,000 787,380 628,000 800,000 850,000 916,670 1,050,000 1,092,960
Endodontists 300,000 570,000 609,670 562,500 565,000 594,270 594,250 666,670 650,000
Periodontists 350,000 468,000 500,000 582,000 540,000 600,000 637,000 650,000 800,000
Prosthodontists 294,100 420,000 400,000 --* 457,000 585,000 530,000 -- 600,000
Table 8: Median Gross Billings Per Dentist for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 1,375,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,100,000 1,300,000 1,400,000
Endodontists 677,080 666,670 600,000 686,000 650,000 650,000 750,000 768,350 800,000
Periodontists 778,000 660,000 550,000 691,000 690,000 650,000 700,000 998,000 900,000
Prosthodontists -- 595,450 -- -- -- 733,370 700,000 900,000 --
Table 9: Gross Billings Per Hour, Per Visit for Solo Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
Gross billings per practice hour 396 229 357 520 222 536
Gross billings per visit 358 205 325 468 215 489
Specialists
All Dentists
Table 10: Median Gross Billings Per Hour, Per Visit for Solo Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Gross billings per practice hour 123 228 249 256 269 269 317 312 338 340 340 347 345 334 350 370
Gross billings per visit 86 159 167 196 201 205 236 235 255 263 274 267 287 292 308 328
Specialists
Gross billings per practice hour 182 314 331 354 377 404 432 458 478 489 463 451 500 487 465
515
All Dentists
Gross billings per practice hour 136 239 256 273 288 286 327 333 363 363 361 367 365 364 371
393
Table 10: Median Gross Billings Per Hour, Per Visit for Solo Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2015 2016

$ $
Gross billings per practice hour 355 357
Gross billings per visit 290 325
Specialists
Gross billings per practice hour

553 533
All Dentists
Gross billings per practice hour

392 400
Table 11: Sources of Gross Billings of Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Direct Patient Government Private Managed Other

Payment Programs Insurance Care Sources
Type of Dentist
(average (average (average (average (average
percent) percent) percent) percent) percent)
All owners 35.1 7.9 40.0 15.8 1.1
Solo 35.6 8.0 39.3 15.9 1.1
Nonsolo 32.6 7.1 43.7 15.5 1.1
Specialists
All owners 44.2 10.2 35.1 9.6 0.8
Solo 44.9 10.2 34.2 10.0 0.7
Nonsolo 40.8 10.0 39.6 7.9 1.6
All Dentists
All owners 37.2 8.4 38.9 14.4 1.1
Solo 37.7 8.5 38.1 14.6 1.0
Nonsolo 34.5 7.8 42.8 13.7 1.2
Table 12: Sources of Gross Billings of Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Source of Payment (average percent) 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Direct Patient Payment 45.5 40.8 42.4 42.7 38.3 38.6 39.5 39.2 37.3 37.5 37.2 37.0 38.0 40.7
Government Programs 4.3 4.6 4.6 5.7 5.6 6.3 4.8 5.5 6.9 6.9 5.8 6.5 5.3 4.8
Private Insurance 49.3 46.4 45.0 44.0 45.9 45.3 44.6 44.5 43.8 43.3 43.4 41.9 43.3 39.8
Managed Care --* 6.9 5.7 6.6 8.1 8.8 9.9 9.8 11.0 11.2 12.1 13.2 12.0 13.6
Other Sources 0.8 1.3 2.2 1.0 2.1 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.2
* The survey for data year 1990 lacked a question for "managed care."
Table 12: Sources of Gross Billings of Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Source of Payment (average percent) 2013 2014 2015 2016

Direct Patient Payment 39.1 37.2 36.9 37.2
Government Programs 4.8 6.3 7.3 8.4
Private Insurance 43.0 40.5 41.5 38.9
Managed Care 12.0 15.3 13.6 14.4
Other Sources 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.1
* The survey for data year 1990 lacked a question for "managed care."
Table 13: Practice Expenses per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner Dentists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
All owners 385,700 200,000 350,000 501,000 236,320 713
Solo 399,710 208,000 380,000 540,000 249,270 506
Nonsolo 355,990 200,000 330,450 450,000 203,010 207
Specialists
All owners 540,760 250,000 450,000 717,000 380,570 336
Solo 593,880 295,000 500,000 754,000 404,270 216
Nonsolo 442,480 200,000 400,000 570,000 309,110 120
All Dentists
All owners 420,430 216,670 375,000 554,000 282,770 1,049
Solo 441,670 225,000 400,000 590,000 300,690 722
Nonsolo 376,770 200,000 333,330 500,000 235,860 327
Table 14: Median Practice Expenses per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder
Salaries) for Owner General Practitioners in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 130,000 215,560 232,510 248,900 269,000 280,000 306,180 305,800 310,400 320,200 327,000
Table 14: Median Practice Expenses per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder
Salaries) for Owner General Practitioners in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ $ $ $ $ $ $
All owners 330,000 320,000 350,000 350,000 355,000 306,600 350,000
Table 15: Practice Expenses per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner Specialists in Private Practice, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
$ $ $ $ $
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 706,650 370,400 600,000 1,000,000 449,500 67
Endodontists 348,700 250,000 313,000 440,000 173,550 34
Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists 592,470 289,530 500,000 737,250 406,830 99
Pediatric Dentists 390,310 202,500 375,000 570,000 232,400 58
Periodontists 558,420 306,000 480,000 700,000 366,080 59
Table 16: Median Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner
Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Endodontists --* 238,060 -- 269,700 244,000 250,000 313,260 266,670 250,000
Periodontists 177,250 300,000 305,000 297,640 323,860 350,000 380,000 310,000 400,000
Prosthodontists -- 283,000 210,000 -- -- -- 375,000 -- --
Table 16: Median Practice Expenses Per Dentist (Excluding Shareholder Salaries) for Owner
Specialists in Private Practice, 1990 – 2016
Type of Dentist 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Endodontists -- 320,000 300,000 346,250 300,000 282,670 335,000 302,640 313,000
Pediatric Dentists -- 372,510 350,000 400,000 371,830 400,000 400,000 470,480 375,000
Periodontists 447,000 375,000 360,000 400,000 420,000 400,000 400,000 600,000 480,000
Prosthodontists -- 350,000 -- -- -- -- 400,000 600,000 --
Table 17: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings of Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
% % % % %
All owners 87.8 80.0 90.0 96.8 12.2 279
Solo 88.9 80.8 91.7 97.9 11.6 177
Nonsolo 83.3 75.0 84.0 94.3 13.5 102
Specialists
All owners 87.1 80.0 90.1 99.3 15.1 131
Solo 86.7 78.6 90.1 99.6 15.7 80
Nonsolo 89.2 82.9 90.9 95.7 11.9 51
All Dentists
All owners 87.7 80.0 90.0 97.5 12.9 410
Solo 88.4 80.2 91.0 98.1 12.7 257
Nonsolo 84.6 78.1 86.2 94.6 13.4 153
Table 18: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a
Percentage of Gross Billings, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2002 –
2016
Type of Dentist (average

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
percent)
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
All Dentists
All incorporated owners 92.9 90.6 93.2 93.8 92.9 92.9 88.7 90.4 88.6 88.1 89.7 88.4 86.3 86.7 87.7
Table 19: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a Percentage of Gross Billings Collected, Incorporated Owner Dentists, 2016
Standard Number of
deviation responses
% % % % %
All owners 98.1 95.0 99.8 101.3 7.6 283
Solo 98.6 95.7 99.8 101.3 7.5 176
Nonsolo 96.5 93.8 98.1 100.0 7.7 107
Specialists
All owners 98.4 92.3 100.0 103.9 9.0 132
Solo 98.5 90.9 100.0 103.9 8.9 81
Nonsolo 97.8 92.4 99.9 100.0 9.3 51
All Dentists
All owners 98.2 94.6 99.8 101.3 7.9 415
Solo 98.5 95.2 100.0 101.7 7.8 257
Nonsolo 96.7 93.8 98.9 100.0 8.0 158
Table 20: Practice Expenses (Including Shareholder Salaries) as a
Percentage of Gross Billings Collected, Incorporated Owner Dentists,
2002 – 2016
Type of Dentist (average

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
percent)
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
All Dentists
All incorporated owners 97.0 96.1 98.2 99.1 97.0 98.9 95.6 97.3 98.0 96.7 97.1 97.6 97.6 96.7 98.2
Employment Situation of Dentists
Tables in this report frequently group results by the employment situation of dentists. The
hierarchy of employment situations used in this report is:
Comparison of “employment situation” categories used in this report:
1
Independent contractors were 2.5% of all dentists in private practice between 2013 and 2015 according to the ADA
Health Policy Institute’s Distribution of Dentists surveys. This category typically had too few responses to allow for
separate statistical analysis in this report’s tables.
Methodology
The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute mailed the 2017 Survey of Dental
Practice to dentists in 2017 to collect information about the previous year of operation, 2016.
Sampling, Data Collection
Samples for the Survey of Dental Practice are drawn from the ADA Sampling Frame which
includes all active private practitioners in the United States. Each year the Sampling Frame is
updated with information from the Distribution of Dentists and the Survey of Dental Graduates,
both of which are conducted on an annual basis. Current information is also gathered from
the ADA’s masterfile.
In March 2017 we created a national random sample of dentists in private practice, including
dentists regardless of membership status in the American Dental Association. The sample
included 11,160 general practitioners and 7,440 specialists. (The percentage of specialists in
the sample exceeded the percentage of specialists in the dental population in order to provide
an adequate number of responses per specialty for statistical analysis.)
In April we emailed an invitation to the online form of the survey to those dentists in the
sample having an email address on record in the ADA masterfile. Non-respondents and
dentists lacking an email address in the ADA masterfile received a mailing of the paper survey
in June. Non-respondents received a second mailing of the paper survey in July. We
completed data collection in September, resulting in 2,468 responses. The final adjusted
overall response rate was 14.0%.
Weighting
We weighted statistics to compensate for oversampling of specialists. We weighted statistics

pertaining to practices (rather than dentists) to compensate for potential oversampling of
practices with more than one dentist.
In addition, we weighted statistics for the years 2000 through 2016 to compensate for survey
nonresponse bias with respect to these dentist characteristics: age group, general practitioner
or specialist status, ADA membership status, and county population corresponding to the
dentist’s location.
Glossary
Definitions of several terms and phrases are provided in this section to assist with the
interpretation of data contained in the tables. The dentists included in this report were working
in private practice as a primary occupation. In addition, all dentists had started in their current
practice prior to 2016.
AVERAGE The arithmetic average calculated by adding all responses

together and then dividing by the number of respondents.
EMPLOYED DENTIST A dentist employed on a salary, commission, percentage, or

associate basis and who does not share in the ownership of
the practice in any way. Employed dentists are one type of
nonowner dentist along with independent contractors.
GROSS BILLINGS The total amount of fees charged by a primary practice for
dental care provided. This information is generally
presented as “gross billings per dentist.” By recalculating
gross billings on a per dentist basis, dentists in nonsolo
practices can be compared to solo dentists.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR A dentist who contracts with the owner dentist(s) of a

practice for the use of space and equipment. Independent
contractors derive their income from the fees charged to
their own patients and do not receive any financial
compensation from the owner(s) of the practice.
Independent contractors are one type of nonowner dentist
along with employed dentists.
MEDIAN A statistical measure that divides ranked numeric responses

into halves. The median is the response which falls at the
fifty percent mark. The responses in one half are all smaller
than the median and those in the other half are all larger
than the median.
NET INCOME A dentist’s personal income after practice expenses and

before the payment of personal income taxes. In
unincorporated practices, the net income typically equals
the difference between the practice’s gross billings collected
and the expenses of operating the practice. In incorporated
practices, shareholders’ net income is included as a practice
expense.
Net income from the primary private practice: net income
from the practice in which the dentist spends the most time
or that the dentist considers the main practice. Payments
toward a retirement plan are included in net income from the
primary private practice.
NONOWNER DENTIST A dentist who does not share in the ownership of the
practice in which he or she works. There are two types of
nonowner dentists: employed dentists and independent
contractors.
NONSOLO OWNER DENTIST A dentist who works in a dental practice along with at least
one other dentist and who owns or shares in the ownership
of the practice. Nonsolo owner dentists are one type of
owner dentist along with solo dentists.
OWNER DENTIST A sole proprietor or partner who owns or shares in the

ownership of an incorporated or unincorporated dental
practice. Sole proprietors or partners in incorporated
practices are also referred to as shareholders. There are
two types of owner dentists: solo dentists and nonsolo
owner dentists.
QUARTILES A statistical measure that divides ranked number responses

into four equal quarters. The 1st quartile is the response
that falls at the twenty-five percent mark and divides the
responses into two unequal groups. One group contains
one-fourth of the responses and the other three-fourths of
the responses. The responses in the smaller group are all
smaller than the 1st quartile and those in the larger group
are all larger than the 1st quartile.
The 2nd quartile is the response that falls at the fifty-

percent mark and divides the responses into two equal
groups. The responses in one half are all smaller than the
2nd quartile and those in the other half are all larger than
the 2nd quartile. The 2nd quartile is also known as the
median.
The 3rd quartile is the response that falls at the seventy-five
percent mark and divides the responses into two unequal
groups. One group contains three-fourth of the responses
and the other one-fourth of the responses. The responses
in the larger group are all smaller than the 3rd quartile and
those in the smaller group are all larger than the 3rd
quartile.
SHAREHOLDER An owner dentist, sole proprietor or partner, in an

incorporated practice.
SOLE PROPRIETOR A single owner of an incorporated or unincorporated dental
practice. In incorporated practices, a sole proprietor is also
referred to as the “sole shareholder.” Sole proprietors may
or may not have nonowner dentists working at their
practices. A sole proprietor who is the only dentist working
in the practice is a solo dentist. A sole proprietor with
nonowner dentists working in his or her practice is a
nonsolo owner dentist.
SOLO DENTIST A dentist who works in a dental practice with no other

dentists and who owns the practice. Solo dentists are one
type of owner dentist along with nonsolo owner dentists.
STANDARD DEVIATION The typical deviation of sample values from the mean. The
size of the standard deviation reflects the accuracy of the
sample mean in representing the population. In a normal
population, 68.0% of the observations fall within one
standard deviation of the mean, 95.5% within two standard
deviations, and 99.7% within three standard deviations.

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Income, Gross Billings, and Expenses: Selected 2016 Results from the Survey of Dental Practice (Tables in Excel)

All General Practitioners 188,580 105,000 170,000 244,000 116,960 1,063

Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Type of Dentist 2015 2016

Gross billings per practice hour 355 357

Gross billings per visit 290 325

Gross billings per practice hour

Gross billings per practice hour

Direct Patient Government Private Managed Other

Source of Payment (average percent) 2013 2014 2015 2016

Type of Dentist 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

All owners 330,000 320,000 350,000 350,000 355,000 306,600 350,000

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Type of Dentist (average

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Type of Dentist (average

Comparison of “employment situation” categories used in this report:

Sampling, Data Collection

We weighted statistics to compensate for oversampling of specialists. We weighted statistics

AVERAGE The arithmetic average calculated by adding all responses

EMPLOYED DENTIST A dentist employed on a salary, commission, percentage, or

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR A dentist who contracts with the owner dentist(s) of a

MEDIAN A statistical measure that divides ranked numeric responses

NET INCOME A dentist’s personal income after practice expenses and

OWNER DENTIST A sole proprietor or partner who owns or shares in the

QUARTILES A statistical measure that divides ranked number responses

The 2nd quartile is the response that falls at the fifty-

SHAREHOLDER An owner dentist, sole proprietor or partner, in an

SOLO DENTIST A dentist who works in a dental practice with no other

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