Healthcare practitioners
Orthodontist
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.
Median pay
$289,140
Growth to 2035
+6%
faster than average
Openings a year
200
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Orthodontist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Orthodontist: 25% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
- Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
- 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.
- Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
- Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
- Advise patients to comply with treatment plans.
- Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
Also called: Board Certified Orthodontist · Orthodontic Dentist · Orthodontic Specialist · Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist · Orthodontics Doctor · Orthodontist
Outlook and AI
Orthodontists held 7,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 7,500 by 2035 (+6%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Orthodontist vs. Dentist
- Orthodontist vs. Prosthodontist
- Orthodontist vs. Pediatric surgeon
- Orthodontist vs. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Orthodontist vs. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Orthodontist vs. Dental assistant
- Orthodontist vs. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Orthodontist vs. Cardiologist
- Orthodontist vs. Dermatologist
- Orthodontist vs. Chiropractor