Back to Career Guides

How to become an Orthodontist

Orthodontist jobs

321

Orthodontist courses

Career progression and salary expectations for an Orthodontist

Associate Orthodontist

| Up to £30,000

Orthodontist

| Up to £40,000

Senior Orthodontist

| Up to £80,000

The role of an Orthodontist

What does an Orthodontist do?

Want to become an Orthodontist? Don’t forget your toothbrush…An Orthodontist specialises in the assessment and treatment of crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and general irregularities in teeth alignment.Usually working with Dentist’s referrals, orthodontic work may be carried out for various reasons related to functionality and appearance. But whether it’s for re-alignment to fix abnormal development, preventing damage to the jaw or simply aesthetical improvements, providng every patient with a winning smile is all in a day’s work for an Orthodontist.Main duties for an Orthodontist include:

Examining patients’ teeth and jaws
Assessing and treating any irregularities
Designing specialised dental equipment such as retainers and braces
Fitting dental appliances to alter the position of teeth
Regularly checking and adjusting equipment
Keeping records of treatment for each patient

Is a career as an Orthodontist right for me?

To become an Orthodontist, you must have strong technical knowledge in dentistry, proven by extensive on the job experience and education.Logical thinking will be key, and a background in science and human biology will certainly help when you get started.As you’ll be dealing with people, you’ll also need to have a confident and friendly approach when conveying information to your patients, ensuring you’re always actively listening to what they have to say and are constantly looking out for their well-being.An Orthodontist should also be:

Attentive and empathetic
Technically minded
Able to demonstrate accuracy, with a keen eye for detail and precision
Dexterous enough to make precise movements
A good problem solver
Good at hand-eye co-ordination

What's it like to be an Orthodontist?

"I’ve always had an interest in human biology, and after studying Science at college, I decided I wanted to specialise in something more specific, where I could help people. Dentistry has always fascinated me, from all the different types of equipment, to the procedures they are able to do to drastically improve someone’s life. After five years of studying, I became a qualified Dentist, but I wanted to learn more – so an extra three years of University later, I qualified as an Orthodontist. It took a long time, but it’s great. I get to combine practicality, logic, and people skills and enjoy a varied and interesting day job. And I haven’t paid for floss in years…"

Get qualified as an Orthodontist

In order to become an Orthodontist, you must first be a qualified Dentist. Following this, a postgraduate MSc course in Orthodontic Dentistry will make specialising in this field possible.

Recommended Dentistry courses

Dentistry : Patient Care and Wellbeing for Dental Hygienist

NextGen Learning

2025 Update | CPD Accredited | Free Reed Certificate | Get Instant & Lifetime Access | 24/7 Tutor Support
- Compare
- New course!
- Online
- 0.9 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 10 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

Popular

See more See less

The role of the Dental Hygienist has never been more crucial in today’s healthcare landscape. In the UK, as of 2024, over 10,000 Dental Hygienist and more than 60,000 dental nurses are registered with the General Dental Council, playing a pivotal role in delivering high-quality c …
Save 7%

£12 £12.99
Dental Hygiene, Dental Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, Radiography & Medical Secretary

NextGen Learning

20 in 1 Career Guided Programme | 200 CPD Points | Free 20 PDF & a Hardcopy Certificate | Tutor Help & Lifetime Access
- Compare
- Online
- 58 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 200 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

Popular

See more See less

*** Exclusive Limited Time Offer! *** ★★ By Enrolling In This Bundle, You’ll Gain Instant And Lifelong Access To 20 Courses, Plus FREE Hard Copy & PDF Certificates, Transcripts, Student ID, Assessment, And Enrolment Letter! ★★ Enhance your career prospects in dentistry and he …
Save 8%

£100 £109