Orthodontists Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Development environment software

Tasks
	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.

Skills
	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.
	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.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Knowledge
	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.
	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.
	Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
	Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Search for Jobs on Connecticut's Labor Exchange (CTJOBcentral)
	(Please note that some searches may not produce any results.)

Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

Browse Through a List of Businesses That Employ People With Your Same Skills
	Potential Employer Search

Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $330,181.00 $158.74  $75.61  N/A - N/A

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   10   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
	Dentists, General
	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
	Pharmacists
	Prosthodontists

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.