Orthodontists

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

Board Certified Orthodontist, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist, 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:
  • 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.
  • Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
  • Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service
  • accounting and economics

Math and Science

  • biology
  • psychology

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

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

Social

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

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

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
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Concern for Others
  • Initiative

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
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
Find Jobs
See more details at O*NET OnLine about orthodontists.