What it is
Pediatric dentists provide dental care for infants, children, adolescents, and special-needs patients — combining child development, behavior management, and prevention with treatment.
What you do
They deliver preventive and restorative care for children, manage dental development, and care for patients with special healthcare needs.
Training path & length
2–3 year CODA-accredited residency after the DDS/DMD.
Fellowship subspecialties
Focus areas include infant oral health, behavior guidance, sedation, and care for special-needs patients.
Pay & job outlook
Dentists are well-compensated. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $179,210 for dentists (May 2024), growing about 4% from 2024 to 2034. Dental specialists — including oral & maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and prosthodontists — are among the highest-paid, at or above the BLS's top published figure ($239,200+).
Pediatric dentists are well-paid dental specialists.
How to get there
Become a dentist first: earn a DDS or DMD, then complete this CODA-accredited residency and board certification to practice the specialty.
Explore further
Keep exploring this part of the resource:
Key facts
- Residency2–3 years (after DDS/DMD)
- TreatsChildren, adolescents, special-needs patients
- FocusDevelopment, behavior, prevention
- PayAbove the general-dentist median
- EntryDDS or DMD