A really close family friend of ours owns a dental clinic, and I have a couple friends that are now DS1's, and one thats a DS4. It really does seem like a great career path, and has WAY better hours than medicine while having approximately the same pay.
I'm applying to med school in the summer, but I'd love to be a dentist. In terms of family life and all that, it's the way to go. I have MUCH stronger reasons for going into medicine though, far beyond the fact that it's a good career to go into, so I couldn't even imagine going another route haha.