Are you opening your first practice? Have you been running your own office for years and are finally considering relocation? Depending on your goals, the United States has plenty of locations for a dental business to thrive and generate a nice income. Here are the best states to open a dental practice in 2023.

Where do dentists earn the most?

Delaware
The average yearly salary for a dentist in Delaware hovers just below $280,000, the taxes are low and most of the population has insurance. It’s a small state with an easy connection to Philadelphia. During the summer, you can spend your days off on one of its many beautiful beaches.

Wisconsin
The population is generally wealthy, healthy and insured. Salaries are competitive and average somewhere in the mid-$220,000s. The cost of living is very affordable and you’ll have access to some of the best continuing education at University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Dentistry. Plus, cheese.

Where are dentists needed the most?

Florida
The yearly salary for a dentist in the sunny state of Florida averages around $275,000. With less than 1,000 dentists in the entire state, as per Cloud9 Software, the competition is slim. Insurance is a drawback, not many residents prioritize dental. If you can jump this hurdle, you will have access to warmth and sun for the majority of the year.

Arizona
There are currently less than 450 registered dentists in Arizona. Similar to Florida, a majority of the residents either rely on Medicaid or forgo insurance altogether. However, the population is generally health-conscious and dentists are in high demand. In Prescott, the average salary is around $200,000 per year. Arizona boasts an affordable lifestyle, plenty of golf, hiking and sunshine.

Where do dentists have the highest quality of life?

Vermont
Vermont is not only beautiful, its cost of living is significantly lower than the country’s average. Here you can ski or hike on your days off without giving a second thought to the cost. Should you choose to live in Burlington, you can expect your salary to flirt with the $275k mark.

Hawaii
One of the best states in the USA to open a practice, Hawaii actively needs more dentists. For example, in Honolulu, more than 70% of residents regularly visit one of just 350 dentists on the island. The average salary maxes around $170,000 and the quality of life is one of the highest in the country.