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Private orthodontic practices
Smile Doctors, Great Expressions Dental Centers, OrthoFi
Orthodontists
Orthodontists diagnose problems with teeth and jaw alignment, then use braces, aligners, retainers, and other appliances to move teeth into better position. The work is distinct because it combines precision hands-on care with long treatment plans that unfold over months or years. The tradeoff is clear: the pay is very high, but the training is long, the work must usually be done in person, and every case depends on careful follow-through from both the doctor and the patient.
Also known as Orthodontic SpecialistOrthodontic DentistClinical OrthodontistOrthodontic DoctorBoard-Certified Orthodontist
Median Salary
$0
Mean $254,620
U.S. Workforce
~5K
0.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.4%
5.9K to 6.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Orthodontists sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~5K workers, with a median annual pay of $0 and roughly 0.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 5.9 K in 2024 to 6.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with DDS/DMD plus orthodontic residency, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around General Dentist and can progress toward Practice Owner / Senior Orthodontist. High-value skills usually include Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Planning, Braces, Aligners & Retainer Adjustment, and Bite, Jaw & Tooth Alignment Analysis, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Speaking Clearly.
Core Responsibilities
- Check a patient’s teeth, bite, and jaw alignment to figure out what needs to be corrected.
- Explain the treatment plan, timeline, and likely cost before care begins.
- Fit braces, retainers, aligners, or other devices and make sure they sit properly in the mouth.
- Tighten, adjust, or repair appliances as teeth shift during treatment.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check a patient’s teeth, bite, and jaw alignment to figure out what needs to be corrected.
02 Explain the treatment plan, timeline, and likely cost before care begins.
03 Fit braces, retainers, aligners, or other devices and make sure they sit properly in the mouth.
04 Tighten, adjust, or repair appliances as teeth shift during treatment.
05 Take photos, scans, measurements, and records to track progress and plan the next step.
06 Make custom appliances and coordinate care with dentists, physicians, or other specialists when a case is more complex.
Industries That Hire
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Dental service organizations
Aspen Dental, Heartland Dental, Pacific Dental Services
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Dental product and aligner companies
Align Technology, Dentsply Sirona, Henry Schein
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Hospitals and medical centers
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Dental schools and universities
NYU College of Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is very strong, with a mean annual wage of $254,620.
+
You get to solve visible, concrete problems such as crowded teeth, bad bites, and jaw alignment instead of doing only routine checkups.
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Treatment can be intellectually satisfying because each case requires diagnosis, planning, and careful adjustments over time.
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There is room for strong earnings growth if you build a busy specialty practice or become a practice owner.
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Demand is steady enough to support about 200 annual openings, so there is a consistent need for replacements even though the field is small.
Challenges
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Getting into the field takes a long time: the usual entry point is a doctoral or professional degree plus internship or residency training, with no shortcut through on-the-job training.
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The job market is small, with only about 5,150 workers nationwide, so openings can be limited and location matters a lot.
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Growth is modest at 4.4% from 2024 to 2034, which means this is a stable specialty rather than a fast-expanding one.
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Remote work is rare because most of the work requires hands-on exams, appliance adjustments, and in-person follow-up visits.
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Simple alignment cases are increasingly compared with cheaper digital and clear-aligner options, so orthodontists have to prove the value of full specialty care and often compete on quality rather than convenience alone.
Career Progression
General Dentist
0-5 years
$150K-$190K
Builds broad clinical experience, manages routine dental care, and prepares to apply for a specialty residency.
Orthodontic Resident
2-3 years
$190K-$230K
Trains under supervision on bite correction, appliance fitting, and specialty case planning.
Orthodontist THIS ROLE
0+ years
$240K-$290K
Runs active orthodontic treatment for braces, aligners, and jaw alignment, often in a busy private practice.
Practice Owner / Senior Orthodontist
8+ years
$300K-$400K
Handles complex cases while also managing staff, scheduling, overhead, and business growth.
Education Paths
DDS/DMD plus orthodontic residency
This is the most common route, covering 68.94% of workers in the education distribution, and it reflects the specialty training needed after dental school.
Doctoral degree in dentistry or a related clinical doctorate
Another 12.09% are listed at the doctoral degree level, usually with additional specialty training and licensure after graduation.
First professional degree in dentistry (DDS/DMD)
A smaller 7.08% are listed at the first professional degree level, but that alone is not enough without residency training and a dental license.
Key Skills
Technical
Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Planning 80%
Braces, Aligners & Retainer Adjustment 80%
Bite, Jaw & Tooth Alignment Analysis 80%
Dental X-Rays, CBCT Scans & Intraoral Imaging 78%
iTero, 3Shape & Digital Impression Systems 78%
Dentrix, Eaglesoft & Dental Practice Management Software 78%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeaking ClearlySocial PerceptivenessCoordinationAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+4.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 5.9K to 6.2 K over the next decade, representing 4.4% growth. Around 0.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.