OP, que cahones! Really though, I applaud your honesty (though it's online, but still!). Many people probably are thinking exactly like you but say they're in it for the patients and for the love of teeth. While that is true, we are humans after all and money is in the top 5 things of everyones list, especially in the US. I myself am in the same dilemma, and considering Dentistry or Medicine, both lucrative and amazing fields, but Dentistry (for us) provides a path much quicker to being rich than being a Doctor.
Plus, to the people that say, "if you're in it to be rich, go find another job, there a plenty which are easier to be rich", really? Tell me one right now and I'll really really consider it.
Being a dentist almost surely means you will have a GREAT paying job, even at corporate or 1st year associate, you're making over 100k+ (the mean I am assuming), that's pretty insane, most jobs take 10+ years to get to that point, compare that to being a dentist and owning private practice (own boss) after a few years! Oh! And the hours! It's a great lifestyle for a person who love money, and trust me, wanting to be rich, nay, expecting to be rich, is the greatest motivation I have, and I LOVE sciences with a passion, but my first and foremost motivation is the idea of being rich.
And on top of ALLLL this crazy awesome stuff that follows the career, if you're financially literate (which you probably if you're like me and really really want to be rich) you will excel beyond your expectations, but that goes for any job, the difference here is that you'll have a salary of 100k+, and if you live moderately, not lavish, you'll have tons of money to INVEST!!!! In any means, that makes sense of course ha!
Being a Dentist to become rich should not be fround upon