How Many Hours Do Dentists Work? Understanding the Realities of a Dental Career

Table of Contents

• Practice Ownership vs. Associate Dentist
• Dental Specialty: How Your Focus Changes Everything
• Practice Setting: Private, Corporate, Public Health, and Hospital Dentistry
• Geographic Location & Patient Demand
• Experience Level

Introduction: Pulling Back the Curtain on a Dentist’s Work Week

If you’ve ever thought about being a dentist, you’ve probably wondered, “How many hours do dentists really work?” I sure did before I got into this job. When I first watched a dentist at work, I thought he’d show up at 9 AM, be done at 5 PM, and then think about his golf game. Turns out, it’s not that simple. Dentists don’t work just an easy “9 to 5” day.

People want to know about a dentist’s hours for all sorts of reasons. Maybe you’re thinking about becoming a dentist or you’re just curious, or you want to see if this career fits your lifestyle. Whatever reason you’re here, I want to give you a real, easy to understand answer—not just some textbook explanation.

In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned from my own time as a dentist and from chatting with other folks in the field. We’ll look at numbers, talk about common ideas that aren’t true, and explain what really affects a dentist’s work hours. My hope is that you’ll leave with a clear idea of what being a dentist is really like, and maybe some tips for how to find a good balance between work and the rest of your life.

The Average Dentist Work Week: What the Numbers Really Say

Let’s get this first part out of the way—when people ask, “How many hours do dentists work?”, they usually want a simple answer. Here’s the truth: most full-time dentists spend around 32 to 40 hours each week seeing patients. But, just like picking your favorite coffee, it can really depend on your choices.

That number doesn’t count all the time a dentist spends on other stuff. Working with patients is just one part of the job. There’s also paperwork, taking care of the office, hiring people, finding new patients, and more. If you own your own dental office (like a few close friends of mine), your weekly hours can easily add up to 50 or more—especially if you are trying to grow your business or run a team.

Here’s a quick look at the numbers:

When I was a new dentist working as an associate, I did about 36 hours with patients over four days each week. That meant three days off every weekend—a real bonus in healthcare jobs. But when I started running my own dental office, my hours went up. Suddenly, I was answering staff questions after work, handling emergency patients, and spending extra time learning new things for my practice.

The main point is that being a dentist can give you more regular hours than doctors in hospitals, who work overnight or on weekends sometimes. But every dentist’s schedule is different, depending on lots of things.

What Shapes a Dentist’s Schedule?

No two dentists work exactly the same hours. Like my old teachers said, dentistry is a “make your own story” kind of career—if you’re willing to take charge.

Let’s break down the biggest things that change a dentist’s schedule.

Practice Ownership vs. Associate Dentist

Practice Owners

These dentists run their own office. Owning your own practice lets you set your hours, but also means a lot more work that’s not seeing patients—like hiring, paying bills, buying supplies, fixing the schedule, and making sure you follow the rules.

A good friend of mine who owns his own busy office once said, “I’m the dentist, the cleaner, the boss, HR, and the ad guy, all in one.” Most owners spend about 40–50+ hours each week at work. Some weeks, it can go up to 60 if you’re doing taxes or bringing in new tech, like a new digital dental lab service.

Associate Dentists

This is how I started. Associates only work with patients for the most part, and their hours are usually between 32 and 40 each week. There’s not much work to take home. You finish your day and can forget about the office—most of the time.

The trade-off? You have to stick to someone else’s rules. But if you want steady hours and more free nights, this is one of the better paths.

Dental Specialty: How Your Focus Changes Everything

Your dental specialty will change not just what you do, but also when you have to do it. Here’s what I’ve seen:

• General Dentists: This job is flexible. Some work four long days, others do five shorter days. If you own your office, you have even more say.
• Orthodontists: These dentists often work in set time blocks—sometimes only three or four days each week.
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons: These dentists have the least set hours. They might go to the hospital, help with after-hours emergencies, and work more, especially when they’re just starting out. A workweek can be 60+ hours at first.
• Endodontists and Periodontists: These jobs often mean shorter weeks—maybe three full patient days, with time for consults or paperwork.
• Pediatric Dentists: Many line up their hours with school times so they can be home with their own kids, too.

I shadowed a kids’ dentist who finished work by 3 PM most days and had weekends free for her family. That’s pretty rare in other healthcare jobs.

Practice Setting: Private, Corporate, Public Health, and Hospital Dentistry

Private Practice

If you want control, this is your best bet. Private dentists—especially those who own the place—can make their hours. Some work a lot to make more money or grow, others slow down later in life. When I opened my little office, I liked being the boss—but sometimes that meant working late to finish paperwork.

Corporate Dentistry / DSOs

Companies that own many dental offices (DSOs) have more set schedules. Dentists here often work fixed hours and don’t do much paperwork. The plus side? You know your work hours. The downside? You can’t really pick your schedule.

Public Health / Government (like VA)

I worked at a VA clinic, which was different in a good way. Five days a week, eight hours each day, no nights or weekends, and no calls on holidays. The pay and benefits were good, but there was not much chance to earn extra or work overtime. If a calm, steady job is what you want, this could be right for you.

Hospital-Based Dentistry

These dentists work in hospitals or ERs. They might get called in at night or on weekends. If you like different kinds of challenges, this might be a fit—but it’s not for someone who wants every weekend off.

Geographic Location & Patient Demand

Where you work matters a lot. In small towns, I’ve seen dentists put in long days because there are fewer dentists to go around, so they take on extra work. In cities, there might be fewer patients per dentist, but your hours might be easier to set. Local economy, insurance, and even the time of year all play a part.

Experience Level

Brand new dentists usually start as associates, with fixed hours and little control. When I finished dental school, I took whatever shifts were open. But when I got more experience and built a name, I could choose my hours, lead a practice, or even start teaching or consulting.

Work-Life Balance in Dentistry: Hopes, Myths, and Hard Truths

A lot of folks say they want to be a dentist for the good work-life balance. It’s true—but only if you try to make it happen.

Dentistry usually is better than many doctor jobs for work-life balance. Working four days a week, with most evenings and weekends off, is pretty common. But if you own your practice and try to do everything, it can be hard. I’ve had to take late-night calls for patient problems and seen other dentists get totally worn out.

The real trick? Learning how to let others help you. Once I got a good office manager and started using new software for things like dental lab for retainers and patient records, my stress really dropped and I could spend more time with my family.

A few tips that worked for me:

• Set rules: Decide early what nights or weekends you’ll work—then stick to it.
• Pick the right path: Government jobs or public health are more steady. Private practice gives you more choices but can take more time.
• Think part-time: Later in my career, I went to three days a week. I was never happier.

Bottom line? Dentistry can give you a good balance, but you need to be smart about your time.

Do Dentists Work Weekends or Evenings?

People ask me a lot: Do dentists have to work nights and weekends?

It depends. When I worked with a big group, the answer was yes—about a third of us took turns working Saturdays so people who worked 9–5 could see us. Many big dental offices and company-owned places also offer evening or weekend hours to stay busy.

But specialists, like those who do surgery or work with kids, often stick to weekdays—unless there’s a real emergency. I know a guy who does implants and only works by appointment, during the week, which helps him keep things calm.

If getting calls at night scares you, don’t worry. In most jobs (especially if you set rules for your practice), you rarely get them. Emergencies happen, but not as much as in hospital medicine. Once I made a clear policy about emergencies, my phone almost never rang late at night.

Dentist Hours Compared to Other Healthcare Professions

Let’s be honest: Dentists usually have better hours than other folks in medicine, and it’s true for most people.

When I talk with my friends who are doctors, the difference is obvious. Many of them still do 24-hour shifts or stay overnight at hospitals. Nurses and other healthcare workers often work weekends, nights, and holidays as a normal part of the job.

Most dentists never work overnight or on big holidays. You can often cut back hours or work part-time, even as you get older. A lot of dental offices work with fast labs—like a crown and bridge lab—so patients get things done quickly and dentists don’t need to put in extra hours.

Of course, owning the office means extra paperwork, but you still have more say over your day than most hospital workers.

Conclusion: Crafting Your Unique Dental Journey

So, how many hours do dentists work? After years in the job and talking to many others, here’s what I know: there’s no single answer. Most dentists do 32–40 hours a week of patient work, but the rest depends on if you own your practice, your specialty, where you work, and lots of other things.

For me, I’ve done it all: long days as a new associate, way too many hours as an office owner, balanced days at a VA clinic, and now a part-time schedule. Dentistry let me make these choices—and that shaped not just my job, but also my family life.

If you’re thinking about this as a career, think about what matters most to you. Do you want to earn more and work a lot? Do you want regular hours and every weekend off? Or do you like mixing patient care with teaching or consulting? You have more say in dentistry than you might think.

Ask yourself: What do I want my days, and my future, to look like? That answer will help you find your own path and your own idea of success.

In the end, whether you want to become a dentist, try out something new, or just hope for shorter workweeks and more fun time, this job can fit your needs. Just remember, it depends on your choices, your rules, and how you shape your days. From where I stand, it’s a path well worth walking.