Orthodontists
On the Job
Orthodontists examine, diagnose, and treat malocclusions (misalignment of teeth). They may design appliances to realign teeth and jaws to make sure they are functioning normally.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Diagnose dental conditions.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Train medical providers.
- Design medical devices or appliances.
- Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
- Adjust dental devices or appliances to ensure fit.
- Fabricate medical devices.
- Examine mouth, teeth, gums, or related facial structures.
- Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Frequent contact with others.
- The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- Responsibility for outcomes and results.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Working with a group or team.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- High levels of competition.
- Exposure to disease or infections.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
