Orthodontists

patient investigative tooth treatment plan medical device diagnose appliance design jaw facial structure

Orthodontic Dentist, Orthodontic Specialist, Orthodontics Doctor, Orthodontist

What they do:
Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.
On the job, you would:
  • Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
  • Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
  • Study diagnostic records, such as medical or dental histories, plaster models of the teeth, photos of a patient's face and teeth, and X-rays, to develop patient treatment plans.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • biology

Skills

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • understanding people's reactions

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Concern for Others
  • Independence
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology

Medical software

  • Patient management software
  • PerfectByte Ortho

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • American Orthodontics Compu-Ceph
  • GAC International OrthoPlex

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
post-doctoral training or
doctoral degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
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Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about orthodontists.