Diagnose what does not line up
Examine teeth and jaw, then compare X-rays, photos, models and history to see why the bite is off.
Career profile
Orthodontist
Orthodontists choose how to shift teeth so upper and lower rows fit together better.
Each plan starts with an exam, and follow-ups show whether it works. Expect precise handwork and choices you rethink as teeth shift and patients grow.
A day in the life
Present the plan and price
Map the needed tooth movement, then propose aligners or braces with a timeline and cost estimate.
Adjust the appliance
Compare the current bite with past records, tweak the appliance, and replan if teeth aren't moving as expected.
Coach a struggling patient
Ask what makes appliance care hard, hear the patient out, then explain how daily habits shape treatment.
Plan the order of treatments
If patients also need jaw surgery or restorative work, settle the order with that provider and record it.
Quick facts
Dental degree + specialty residency
United States
$289,140/year
United States · May 2025
6% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Dental degree + specialty residencyOrthodontic residency usually adds two to three years after dental school.
Pay
$289,140/yearNational median for orthodontists; the hourly equivalent is $139.01.
Outlook
6% projected growthAbout 200 openings per year nationally, including replacement needs.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like picturing how small changes in position affect the way parts fit together.
- You enjoy precise hand work that demands steady attention.
- You are willing to explain a plan again when someone is worried or confused.
Things to weigh
- You commit to years of education beyond dental school. Compare residency tuition and living costs before choosing a program.
- You work very close to patients' mouths, with infection exposure and repeated fine hand movements.
- Progress depends partly on what patients do between appointments. You may need to revisit expectations and adjust treatment over time.
Where AI may help
Some tools use artificial intelligence (AI) to help plan tooth movement or review patient images between visits.
What people still lead
You check whether a computer's suggestion makes sense for this patient's teeth, health, and treatment goals, then decide what to change.
What we can’t predict yet
How much planning and monitoring can be automated safely remains unsettled, especially when a patient's condition differs from the cases used to develop the tool.
Pay in context
Earnings
Orthodontist pay has a wide national spread; the median is not a starting salary.
The national midpoint and spread
The median was $289,140 a year, equivalent to $139.01 an hour. The 10th-percentile wage was $99,850 and the 90th-percentile wage was $416,000. These mark positions in the pay distribution, not beginner and experienced salaries.
Employment and ownership differ
These figures describe employee wages. A practice owner's patient revenue must also cover business expenses, so it is not directly comparable with a salary. Benefits are outside the wage figures.
A small national job market
Employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 200 openings a year from growth and replacement needs. That national forecast does not tell you where a vacancy will be.
Getting started
Complete a clinical certificate residency
Penn's certificate-only track takes 26 months after dental school.
- What the route involves
- Study tooth movement and jaw growth while treating patients in a specialty clinic. Penn's clinical track also includes experience with complex cases.
- What it can lead to
- You earn an orthodontic specialty certificate documenting completion of the residency.
- What to check
- For either route, the training award does not itself grant a dental license. Check the dental board where you intend to practice for its current requirements.
Combine residency with a master's degree
Indiana University's combined program takes two years after dental school.
- What the route involves
- Complete clinical training, coursework, qualifying examinations, and a research project ending in a thesis or journal manuscript.
- What it can lead to
- You earn a Master of Science in Dentistry and a clinical certificate, adding research preparation useful for teaching as well as practice.
Both routes below follow dental school. Most dental schools require a bachelor's degree and science prerequisites; dental school usually takes four years and awards a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). You then apply for orthodontic residency. State licensure also requires passing the Integrated National Board Dental Examination and meeting the state's clinical assessment and other licensing requirements.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Build a reliable rhythm for reviewing records, explaining plans, and communicating the next steps to dental assistants.
Handle more complex treatment
Develop experience coordinating tooth movement with restorative dentistry or jaw surgery, where the order of treatment matters.
Lead a practice or teach
Practice ownership adds decisions about staffing, equipment, and finances to your clinical work.
- An academic role can combine teaching orthodontic residents with research into treatment and development.
Where you can work
Private orthodontic practice
You work with dental assistants and reception staff around patient appointments. As an owner, you also handle staffing and business decisions; an associate joins an established practice.
- Indoors
- Office
University dental school
Faculty work with residents in a teaching clinic, explain treatment decisions, and teach clinical techniques. Some appointments also include research, so your time extends beyond your own patient visits.
- Indoors
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Draw a simple upper and lower row of teeth on paper, including one crowded area. Mark what you would want to learn before planning movement: where space might come from and how the two rows meet. Notice whether those spatial questions make you curious.
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; do not try to move teeth or adjust anyone's braces or aligners.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 29-1023.00 — Orthodontists. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2025 national Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; SOC 29-1023, supplied pinned binding. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections Table 1.2, 2025–2035; SOC 29-1023, supplied pinned binding. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dentists. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- American Association of Orthodontists. Orthodontic FAQs: What is an orthodontist?. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- American Association of Orthodontists. Why Do I Need an Orthodontist?. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- American Dental Association. Dental Licensure Overview. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Orthodontic Program. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Indiana University School of Dentistry. Orthodontics: Master of Science in Dentistry. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Indiana University School of Dentistry. Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- American Association of Orthodontists. Environmental & Technology Scan on Artificial Intelligence and Orthodontics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- American Association of Orthodontists. AAO Position Paper: Responsible Integration of Artificial Intelligence. Accessed 2026-10-09.