What Does An Orthodontist Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Orthodontists

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.

Salary
$237990
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

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.

  • 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.
  • Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Orthodontists adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function. They provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.

A typical day for an Orthodontist will also include:

  • Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.
  • 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.
  • Fit dental appliances in patients’ mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
  • Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
  • Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Orthodontists also coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services. They may also prepare diagnostic and treatment records.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Orthodontists design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual archwires. They might also diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.

In addition, they instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.

To some Orthodontists, it is also their responsibility to examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

74% said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they found their job meaningful.


Dr. Oleg Drut
Diamond Braces

When it comes to choosing a career, many people follow in the footsteps of people they know: the children of doctors often become doctors, a great teacher may inspire their students to go into teaching, or a family carpentry business might include three generations of carpenters.

When asked why they chose their career, many orthodontists have a similar story: my orthodontist gave me a beautiful smile when I was young, and I was inspired to do the same! Millions of people get their teeth straightened with orthodontic care every year, and a large proportion of them are young, between the ages of 10 and 14. That means a lot of kids achieving healthy, beautiful smiles – and a lot of kids getting inspired by the amazing work their orthodontists do!

Whatever reasons people have for becoming orthodontists, most of them really love their jobs! Being an orthodontist is challenging and rewarding, and all about helping other people.

What is it like being an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a specialist doctor, which means they go to school for a long time (8-10 years, in fact) to perfect the art of straightening teeth and helping people achieve healthy smiles.

Because they provide a medical service, orthodontists are usually in charge of the office where they work. They will lead a team of other dental professionals, such as dental hygienists, dental assistants, orthodontic assistants, and office managers, to treat patients, manage files, clean and restock the office, and handle all billing and insurance payments.

Unlike many medical doctors, orthodontists generally don’t have to work late at night or handle emergencies at any time of day. While they handle emergency orthodontic care, this usually can happen during regular business hours. Flexible work hours and no late nights are some of the many perks of being an orthodontist!

And while straightening teeth is challenging, precise work, there is not as much time pressure or stress as many other medical careers. Plus, most people want to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile, so patients are usually happy to be there! This makes the orthodontist’s office a cheerful, enjoyable place to work.

Orthodontists usually work during the day, often from late morning into the evening, since they see so many young people after school. Depending on the office, some orthodontists may work some weekends, too.

An orthodontist’s office is similar to a dentist’s office, with medical equipment, patient files, waiting room, exam rooms, x-ray machines, and more. Some orthodontists work in small practices with only one doctor (orthodontists are also called doctors) and an assistant or two, while some work in large practices with several doctors and many assistants.

What is work-life like for an orthodontist?

Orthodontists treat each patient’s case individually. No smile is exactly alike, so the doctor carefully examines the patient’s teeth and orthodontic issues (called malocclusions), using x-rays and digital imaging to see the whole dental structure. Then, the orthodontist creates a unique treatment plan to safely and carefully move the teeth into their correct positions. The treatment may use fixed braces, or removable clear aligners like Invisalign, depending on the patient’s preference and the specifics of their case.

Over 1-3 years, the patient will visit the orthodontist every month or so, so the orthodontist can check the progress and make any necessary adjustments. When they are finished, the orthodontist will create a custom retainer, which the patient will use to protect the results of their orthodontic care. Once the patient has their retainer, they usually don’t go back to the orthodontist, but the orthodontist will have lots of new patients to treat! An orthodontist will treat thousands of patients over the course of their career.

But not every patient is the same! Each patient has a unique diagnosis and unique treatment needs, so part of the challenge of being an orthodontist – and the reason they go to so much school – is designing the right orthodontic care plan to achieve the desired results. The orthodontist needs to be able to predict tiny shifts in the teeth to move them where they need to go. It’s almost like a puzzle! Orthodontists use technology to help them model dental movements and create a treatment plan, but they also need a lot of experience and talent to be successful.

When they aren’t examining a patient’s teeth, an orthodontist has lots of other responsibilities:

  • Writing patient notes
  • Planning and designing treatment
  • Communicating with the patient or patient’s parents with emails and phone calls
  • Talking to the patient’s dentist, oral surgeon, or other medical professional
  • Taking continuing education courses to keep their license active
  • Reading up on the newest developments in orthodontic care
  • Any business responsibilities, including budgets, setting up schedules, hiring new employees, paying taxes, and more

Pros

There are many benefits to choosing a career as an orthodontist. Some of these include:

  • High salary and good benefits
  • Reasonable work hours with full-time or part-time employment
  • Enjoyable work atmosphere
  • Sociable office environment working with a team
  • Challenging and rewarding work with grateful patients
  • Variety of cases means the work doesn’t get boring
  • Easy to find a job anywhere in the world
  • An international network of colleagues, attend interesting conferences

Cons

While most orthodontists report high job satisfaction, this may not be the job for everyone! Like any job, there are some drawbacks:

  • Must attend many years of school
  • May need to take on student debt to finish school
  • Must be comfortable with “ick factor”: saliva, blood, gum tissue, etc.
  • If you own your own practice, many business responsibilities
  • Need to take continuing education courses to stay licensed

For the reasons listed above, some choose not to pursue a career in orthodontics. But for those who believe the benefits outweigh the cons, you can expect a rewarding, challenging, and fun career as an orthodontist!


Pros

Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Demand for this career is growing very fast.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

How much do they make

Average salary

$237990 per year

Average hourly wage

$114 per hour

Entry-level Orthodontists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $74,020 to $150,250 per year or $36 to $72 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $208,000+ $100+
Senior (Top 25%) $208,000+ $100+
Median $208,000+ $100+
Junior (Bottom 25%) $150,250 $72
No experience (Bottom 10%) $74,020 $36

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Orthodontists based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Offices of Physicians $255550 $122.86
Offices of Dentists $240980 $115.86
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $152570 $73.35
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $85660 $41.19

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Orthodontists work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Orthodontists including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Offices of Dentists 4780 $240980 $115.86
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 90 $152570 $73.35
Offices of Physicians 70 $255550 $122.86
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 30 $85660 $41.19

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
50%

40 hours
20%

More than 40 hours
31%

Working schedule

95%

5%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
27%

Every day
63%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
37%

Every day
57%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
7%

Every day
93%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
20%

Once a year
51%

Once a month
10%

Once a week
0%

Every day
19%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
0%

Slightly competitive
0%

Moderately competitive
6%

Highly competitive
54%

Extremely competitive
41%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
5%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
95%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
8%

Post-Doctoral Training
92%

Relevant majors

Orthodontics Residency Program

A residency training program that prepares dentists in the principles and techniques involved in the prevention and correction of dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.

Orthodontics/Orthodontology

A program that focuses on the advanced study of the guidance of growing dental structures and the correction of misalignments, disproportionate growth, and traumas caused by genetics, disease, injuries, and dysfunctional behaviors. Includes instruction in craniofacial growth and development, malocclusion, design and fabrication of orthodontic appliances, craniofacial alignment, physiological function and analysis, cephalometrics, model analysis, space analysis, surgical orthodontics, cleft lip and palate, and treatment planning and management.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
58%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
4%

2 to 4 years
16%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
17%

Over 10 years
5%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
62%

1 month
6%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
2%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
5%

4 to 10 years
19%

Over 10 years
6%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Thinker

People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.

The Builder
76%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
100%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
67%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
48%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
33%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
86%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
86%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
86%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
86%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
57%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
95%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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