Orthodontists
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Also known as:
Dentofacial Orthopedics Dentist, Invisible Braces Orthodontist, Orthodontist, Pediatric Orthodontist
See all Health Science Careers.
Beautifully straight, even teeth make for a great smile. They also contribute to overall good health. So orthodontists are important to the way people look and feel. Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in the way teeth fit together. They study each patient's mouth and jaw. This often involves taking X-rays. After diagnosing the problem, the orthodontist creates appliances such as braces or retainers to help straighten the teeth.
These are highly trained medical professionals - usually with eight years of college and dental school. As part of their education, they're trained to give shots, perform oral surgery, and prescribe medication. This profession requires excellent hand coordination and good vision. The "work space" can be as small as a child's tooth.
There may be a lot of standing and bending, so orthodontists need to be fit. They also need to be able to deal well with others. Many people, especially children, find visits to the dentist stressful. Orthodontists should be reassuring, friendly, and professional. Most orthodontists work for themselves, either in their own offices or in space shared with other dental professionals.
To be successful, a good understanding of how to run a small business might be necessary. There will be a steady need for orthodontists in the future, providing millions of happy, healthy smiles.
| Leadership |
HIGH
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| Critical decision making |
HIGH
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| Level of responsibilities |
HIGH
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| Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines |
HIGH
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| Dealing and handling conflict |
LOW
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| Competition for this position |
HIGH
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| Communication with others |
HIGH
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| Work closely with team members, clients etc. |
HIGH
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| Comfort of the work setting |
HIGH
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| Exposure to extreme environmental conditions |
LOW
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| Exposure to job hazards |
LOW
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| Physical demands |
LOW
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Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.
Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.
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.
Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.
| Assisting and Caring for Others | Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
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| Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
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| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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| Documenting/Recording Information | Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
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| Monitoring and Controlling Resources | Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
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| Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards | Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
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| Medicine and Dentistry | Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
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| Customer and Personal Service | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Biology | Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
| English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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| Economics and Accounting | Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data. |
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| Sales and Marketing | Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
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| Administration and Management | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
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| Psychology | Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
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| Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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| Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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| Complex Problem Solving | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
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| Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
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| Active Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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| Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
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