Occupation · SOC 29-1023
Orthodontists
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.
Median wage
$239,200
$98,560–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,150
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
6 mapped
Core skills
Complex Problem SolvingActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessCoordination
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Development environment softwareMedical softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWeb page creation and editing software
Representative tasks
Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.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.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.Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.Advise patients to comply with treatment plans.Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Dental and jaw abnormalities — recognize and document under direct attending supervision during initial patient intake in a clinical training environment.Diagnostic records including X-rays and plaster models — review and interpret foundational findings with guidance from a supervising orthodontist in a residency setting.Patient facial and dental photographs — organize and label using graphics or photo imaging software under direct instruction in an orthodontic clinic.Proposed treatment plans — assist in presenting to patients by preparing supporting visual materials under close supervision in a supervised clinical rotation.Dental appliance fittings — observe and assist with basic placement procedures under direct orthodontist supervision in a clinical training context.Medical and dental history records — compile and format accurately using office suite software under direction in an orthodontic practice.Patient compliance instructions — communicate standard post-appointment care protocols to patients under supervision in a clinical training environment.Diagnostic and treatment records — prepare and maintain in electronic medical software following established templates under attending orthodontist review.Appliance adjustment procedures — perform introductory wire adjustments on routine cases with direct hands-on supervision in a residency clinic.Scheduling and appointment workflows — support using calendar and scheduling software under administrative guidance in an orthodontic office setting.
developing
Jaw development and tooth-position abnormalities — examine and assess independently for routine cases using established diagnostic criteria in a general orthodontic practice.Plaster models, photographs, and X-ray sets — analyze systematically to develop initial treatment plans for straightforward malocclusion cases with reduced attending oversight.Dental appliances including brackets and archwires — fit and seat accurately in patients' mouths for standard treatment cases in a busy outpatient orthodontic clinic.Treatment plan cost estimates — prepare and present clearly to patients and families, addressing common questions with confidence in a private practice environment.Appliance adjustments across scheduled follow-up visits — execute routinely and document outcomes in medical software to maintain treatment progress in an orthodontic practice.Patient compliance with treatment protocols — reinforce through structured counseling and persuasive communication during recall appointments in a clinical setting.Diagnostic record sets — compile, interpret, and integrate into coherent treatment plans using medical and photo imaging software for a varied patient caseload.Complex patient histories with complicating medical conditions — identify relevant factors and adapt standard orthodontic protocols in consultation with supervising specialists.Intraoral and extraoral examination findings — document thoroughly in structured electronic records, applying consistent clinical terminology in an orthodontic practice.Time and patient flow — manage across a multi-chair clinic schedule using scheduling software to ensure efficient and high-quality care delivery.
proficient
Craniofacial and dental-facial abnormalities across a full diagnostic spectrum — diagnose autonomously and distinguish among complex conditions requiring multidisciplinary intervention in a specialty orthodontic practice.Comprehensive diagnostic record sets including cephalometric analyses — study and synthesize independently to develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for non-routine patient presentations.Multiphase orthodontic treatment plans — design, communicate, and adjust for diverse patient populations including children, adolescents, and adults in a full-scope orthodontic practice.Custom dental appliance selection and fitting — determine optimal appliance type and execute precise placement for complex malocclusions, skeletal discrepancies, and surgical cases in a specialty clinic.Progressive appliance adjustments and biomechanical force management — perform with high precision and clinical judgment across the full course of treatment in an autonomous practice environment.Patient and family education regarding treatment plans, timelines, and costs — deliver with clarity, empathy, and individualized communication strategies in a private or group orthodontic practice.Non-routine clinical findings suggesting systemic or pathological involvement — identify, critically evaluate, and coordinate appropriate specialist referrals in a multidisciplinary healthcare environment.Diagnostic and treatment records for medico-legal and regulatory compliance — prepare, review, and maintain to professional and institutional standards in a licensed orthodontic practice.Emerging orthodontic technologies including digital imaging and CAD-CAM appliances — evaluate and integrate into clinical workflows to improve patient outcomes in a contemporary practice setting.Active learning from clinical outcomes and literature — apply systematically to refine treatment protocols and resolve atypical case challenges in an evidence-based orthodontic practice.
advanced
Orthodontic diagnostic and treatment frameworks — develop and standardize at the organizational or institutional level to elevate care quality across a multi-site practice or academic department.Clinical education programs for orthodontic residents — design, implement, and evaluate to build diagnostic and technical competency in the next generation of specialists within an accredited training program.Complex multidisciplinary treatment protocols involving surgical, periodontal, and prosthodontic collaboration — lead and coordinate to achieve optimal outcomes for the most challenging patient cases in a specialty referral center.Organizational policies governing patient records, diagnostic standards, and appliance protocols — author and enforce to ensure regulatory compliance and clinical excellence across a large orthodontic organization.Strategic investment in orthodontic technology platforms including medical software, imaging systems, and digital workflow tools — direct evaluation and adoption to advance practice capabilities at the enterprise level.Orthodontic research initiatives — conceive, fund, and oversee to generate new knowledge in biomechanics, appliance design, or diagnostic methodology within an academic or professional research environment.Quality assurance and clinical outcomes measurement systems — design and implement to monitor practice-wide performance, identify improvement opportunities, and report to governing bodies.Professional development culture within an orthodontic team — model and mentor by sharing advanced clinical reasoning, literature synthesis, and ethical decision-making in a leadership role.Community and public health engagement on orthodontic and dental-facial health — lead outreach, advocacy, and education initiatives to improve access and awareness at a regional or national level.Institutional orthodontic curriculum or clinical guidelines — author and disseminate as a recognized subject-matter authority, influencing standards of practice across the specialty at a national or international level.
Also known as
107 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Dental Laboratory Apprentice (Air Force 4Y032)Pediatric Dentist (Air Force 47KX)Endodontist (Air Force 47EX)Dentist (Air Force 47G1)DoctorOral and Maxillofacial Pathologist (Air Force 47D4)Dentist, Advanced Clinical (Air Force 47G3B)Dentist (Air Force 47G4)Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Maxillofacial Reconstruction (Air Force 47S4C)Periodontist (Army 63D)Dental Assistant (Air Force 4Y0X1)Dentist, Hospital Dentistry (Air Force 47G4H)Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist (Air Force 47D3)Invisible Braces OrthodontistOrthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics SpecialistOral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Temporomandibular Joint (Air Force 47S1A)Dentist, General Clinical (Air Force 47G4C)Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) (Air Force 47G3F)Dental Laboratory Helper (Air Force 4Y012)Dental Treatment CoordinatorOral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Maxillofacial Reconstruction (Air Force 47S1C)Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Facial Esthetics (Air Force 47S3B)Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (Army 63N)Prosthodontist, Area Dental Laboratory (Air Force 47P1B)Prosthodontist, Dental Materials (Air Force 47P4C)Dental Hygienist (Navy L35A)Executive Dentist (Army 63R)Dental Superintendent (Air Force 4Y090)Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) (Air Force 47G1F)Dentist, General Clinical (Air Force 47G1C)Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force 4Y011)Dental Manager (Air Force 4Y000)Dentist, Public Health (Air Force 47G1D)Prosthodontist (Army 63F)Endodontist (Air Force 47E4)Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Facial Esthetics (Air Force 47S4B)Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist (Air Force 47D1)Prosthodontist (Air Force 47PX)Prosthodontist (Air Force 47P1)Dentist, Dental Materials Science (Air Force 47G1E)