Orthodontist

Orthodontist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Orthodontics, a specialty within the dental profession, involves straightening teeth and correcting bites. As an orthodontist, you are responsible for locating problems with the positioning of patients' teeth and with their oral development. You might use x-rays or plaster molds of your patients' teeth to do this. You will then use dental appliances, such as braces, retainers and space maintainers, to correct these problems for the purpose of providing better function, appearance and facial development. You will also be responsible for planning custom treatment plans that are tailored to treat each individual patient based on his or her dental records and specific anomalies. You may also be in charge of supervising and instructing orthodontic technicians and assistants in performing routine procedures.

Salary:  The average U.S. orthodontist earns $196,270.

Education:

Orthodontists are specialized dentists trained to diagnose, prevent and correct structural problems in patient's teeth. More than a decade of education is required in preparation for this career. This includes four years of college, four years of dental school and two to three years of post-graduate orthodontics training, as well as extensive written and clinical certification and licensing exams.