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
SpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCoordinationTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningWritingService OrientationSciencePersuasionLearning StrategiesInstructingManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems AnalysisOperations AnalysisNegotiationSystems EvaluationOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisOperation and ControlManagement of Material ResourcesMathematicsTroubleshootingTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionProgrammingRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingPhysicsEngineering and TechnologyPsychologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingChemistryProduction and ProcessingSales and MarketingCommunications and MediaDesignPublic Safety and SecurityMechanicalTelecommunicationsTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageSociology and AnthropologyLaw and GovernmentPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyBuilding and ConstructionTransportationGeographyFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
AdaAdstra Systems ADSTRA ManagementAdvance Ortho Systems Program DirectorAlgorithm Compu-CephAmerican Orthodontics Compu-CephAmerican Orthodontics Photo-EzeDolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin ManagementEZapptFYI Technologies Dr. CephFYI Technologies Dr. ViewFacebookGAC International OrthoPlexICE Dental SystemsIMS Specialty Services IMS Digital OfficeInnovative Software Inn-Soft Office ManagerKatchitek Corporation OrthoManagerKodak Dental Systems Kodak ORTHOWAREMicrosoft Office softwareNew Horizons Software OrthoExecOasys structural design and analysis softwareOrtho Computer Systems ViewPointOrthoChartOrthoeasePatient management softwarePerfectByte OrthoSolutions by Design ScreenPlayWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping and Building TeamsDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoaching and Developing OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersWorking with ComputersThinking CreativelyScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesStaffing Organizational UnitsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsSelling or Influencing OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsAnalyzing Data or InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsProcessing InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
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
12 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Board Certified OrthodontistDental Treatment CoordinatorDentofacial Orthopedics DentistDoctorInvisible Braces OrthodontistOrthodontic DentistOrthodontic SpecialistOrthodontic Treatment CoordinatorOrthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics SpecialistOrthodontics DoctorOrthodontistPediatric Orthodontist