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Job description
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.
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Orthodontists with little to no experience tend to make between $72780 and $142470 while the more experienced ones can earn over $208,000 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| AR | Over $100 | Over $208,000 |
| NE | Over $100 | Over $208,000 |
| NH | Over $100 | Over $208,000 |
| OR | Over $100 | Over $208,000 |
| VA | Over $100 | Over $208,000 |
One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Orthodontist is to move to a higher paying state like AR. Right now, the highest paying states for Orthodontists are AR, NE, NH, OR and VA.
However, a higher pay at AR doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at AR might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.
Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Orthodontist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.
Requirements
We asked other Orthodontists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Post-Doctoral Training followed by a PhD.
Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| Orthodontics/Orthodontology |
| Orthodontics Residency Program |
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Orthodontist.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally |
| Suitable for people who wants independence and likes 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 likes to work with designs |
| It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career. |
What is the job like
74% of Orthodontists said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends 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.
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Learn more about Orthodontists
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| Job Description | |
| Salary | |
| Requirements | |
| Is This Right For Me |
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Related career information
Orthodontists job description, Orthodontists salary, Orthodontists information, what is the job of an Orthodontist like, pros and cons about Orthodontists, colleges and universities for Orthodontists, is Orthodontists the right career for me, careers in Healthcare and Medical
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Additional resources
Last updated: April 28, 2020
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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.
