What Do Orthodontists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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. They also 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.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
• Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
• Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.

We asked Orthodontists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

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.

We asked some Orthodontists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	72% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	93% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	70% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	87% said yes

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 arch wires. 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.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Orthodontist, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

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.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/dentists.htm

http://www.ada.org/en/coda

http://www.adea.org/

http://www.agd.org/