Why does everyone say dentists earn more than doctors?

I'm no expert on this but I think that doctors often work much longer hours than dentists. This could mean that dentists earn more per hour but not more per year.

A lot of dentists are private and a lot more services with dental practices are privatised, which would explain why some dentists earn more than NHS doctors, especially seeing as the majority of dentists work 9-5

I’ve read through numerous threads stating that dentists earn more than doctors however I’m a tad bit confused as to why people say this as if you look at the actual statistics on google, it says medical consultants earn around 80k a year while dentists earn around 50k a year. Even in foundation training doctors and dentists both earn the same, about 25k.

I’m aware that obviously you shouldn’t just go into a job for the money but I’m just confused as to why people say this when the actual statistics say otherwise.

I think a more accurate way of looking at it might be that dentists initially have to work fewer hours and endure less hoop jumping than a doctor with a similar number of years of experience - and still earn a good salary. Dentists don't have to sit expensive postgraduate exams or go through many years of specialty training (although some will choose to do this) with nights, weekend work etc, so I suspect this may be what those threads are getting at. But, as always, it's TSR, so generalisations and conjecture abound.

I don't think it's necessarily true that dentists earn more than medical consultants. A lot of dentists still work within the NHS (i.e. not lucrative) and even the private treatments which the average high street general dental practice offers aren't really that much of a money spinner compared with medical consultancy.

What I would class as truly lucrative "private dentistry" i.e. private clinics, Harley St vibe, high fees per treatment, prosthetic/cosmetic work, international clientele etc is not something that's done by most dentists as far as I'm aware, and requires a significant amount of experience and further investment and training.

I think you can go into medicine and easily dispense with nights and weekends after FY2 if you pick the right specialty. Or you can go into a specialty which makes lots of money (both in the NHS and privately). Or you can go into a specialty with endless nights and weekends and little potential for private work if that's what you like. The world is your oyster!

This is all coming from a non-dentist btw.

So basically, solely working for the NHS, doctors earn more but have lots more working hours whereas dentists earn less but have a more relaxed life

Your earnings are far more heavily dependent on things like:

- The proportion of NHS work you do compared to private work
- Whether you are an employee, or an owner/partner of a practice
- The amount of freelance/locum work you do
... etc.

If you're comparing like for like (i.e. NHS Doctor vs NHS Dentist) then perhaps the doctor might earn more, as there is currently a greater shortage of them within the NHS. On the other hand, doctors are far more likely than dentists to be on the lower paid side of the issues I mentioned above (i.e. working full time in the NHS as an employee, with no private or locum work).

What is freelance/locum

What is freelance/locum