According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2006-07, there are 150,000 licensed in the United States
All 50 States and the District of Columbia require dentists to be licensed.
Dentists held about 150,000 jobs in 2004.
Employment was distributed among general practitioners and specialists as follows:
Dentists, general 128,000
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons 6,000
Dentists, all other specialists 5,000
"About one third of dentists were self-employed and not incorporated.
Almost all dentists work in private practice. According to ADA, 78
percent of dentists in private practice are sole proprietors, and 14
percent belong to a partnership. A few salaried dentists work in
hospitals and offices of physicians."
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition,
(visited November 30, 2006).
number of licensed dentists in the United States
I hope the information provided is helpful!