What You'll Do

  • 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.
  • Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
  • Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
  • Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
  • Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
  • Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
  • 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.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Monitoring 4.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.88/5
Coordination 3.88/5
Active Learning 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.75/5
Time Management 3.75/5
Writing 3.38/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Achievement Orientation, Integrity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 4.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Ada Adstra Systems ADSTRA Management Advance Ortho Systems Program Director Algorithm Compu-Ceph American Orthodontics Compu-Ceph American Orthodontics Photo-Eze Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management EZappt Facebook FYI Technologies Dr. Ceph FYI Technologies Dr. View GAC International OrthoPlex ICE Dental Systems IMS Specialty Services IMS Digital Office Innovative Software Inn-Soft Office Manager Katchitek Corporation OrthoManager Kodak Dental Systems Kodak ORTHOWARE Microsoft Office software New Horizons Software OrthoExec Oasys structural design and analysis software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.62/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 4.39/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.37/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Board Certified Orthodontist Dental Treatment Coordinator Dentofacial Orthopedics Dentist Invisible Braces Orthodontist Orthodontic Dentist Orthodontic Specialist Orthodontic Treatment Coordinator Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist Orthodontics Doctor Orthodontist Pediatric Orthodontist