Is the Dental Industry a Highly Profitable Sector?
As someone who knows many hospital workers through my job—including dentists—I’m fairly familiar with this topic. Let’s dive in.
From conversations with my hospital-working friends, one thing’s clear: they all agree dentistry is the most profitable department, bar none.
Why? It’s tied to changing consumer mindsets. In the past, with a less developed economy, people focused on basic needs like food and shelter. Now, as incomes rise, oral health has become a priority. Dental issues are common—teeth are used daily and often neglected—and treatments come with high price tags, sometimes exceeding those of other medical departments.
Dental profits boil down to two factors: technology and materials, with materials being the bigger moneymaker.
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Technology: Skill levels vary, but the cost gap isn’t drastic.
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Materials: This is where the eye-popping prices come in. For example:
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A dental implant can cost ¥8,000 to ¥10,000 for a basic model, up to ¥30,000–¥50,000 for premium ones.
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A dentist once told me that a filling material sold for ¥500 might cost just ¥5 wholesale. The markup on materials can be 100x or more, explaining the industry’s profitability.
Dentistry stands out for low risk. Unlike other medical fields, dental procedures (e.g., implants, fillings) rarely pose life-threatening risks, provided the patient is medically stable.
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Few malpractice disputes: Unlike other departments, dental-related lawsuits are rare.
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Subjective outcomes: Patients often can’t easily judge the "perfection" of a procedure—they’re just happy if the tooth functions. This reduces accountability for minor flaws.
Dental doctors’ incomes typically include:
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Base salary (civil service or technical position pay).
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Performance bonuses tied to department revenue.
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In a mid-tier hospital: Annual salaries of ¥200,000–¥500,000 are common.
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In top-tier dental hospitals: Rumors swirl of doctors earning ¥1 million+, though specifics are rarely disclosed.
A common trend: hospital dentists running private clinics on the side.
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They leverage hospital patient networks to direct clients to their own clinics, offering lower prices than hospitals while keeping profits higher.
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Many street-side dental clinics are secretly owned by hospital-based dentists, allowing them to double-dip: earning a salary from the hospital while pocketing profits from their private practice.
