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What does a board certified orthodontist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

A board-certified orthodontist specializes in diagnosing and correcting different issues in teeth and jaw. They particularly design and place orthodontic devices to improve teeth and jaw alignment, such as braces and retainers. Their job also entails studying the patients' medical records and dental histories, conducting diagnostic tests, assessing x-rays, developing treatment plans and discussing them with the patients, providing cost estimates, or referring patients to other specialists when necessary. Moreover, as a board-certified orthodontist, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, providing them with guidelines and instructions for successful operations.

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Board certified orthodontist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real board certified orthodontist resumes:

  • Manage Invisalign treatments and procedures.
  • Implement various techniques, including EMDR and the MBTI, to help clients resolve issues
  • Provide pastoral/spiritual care to patients and/or families under direction of mentoring chaplains during training.
  • Work alongside physicians to provide a holistic care to patients and participates in various interdisciplinary meetings.
  • Care for chronic conditions include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, thyroid conditions and depression/anxiety among many other common conditions.
  • Use of family systems theory, CBT, DBT, and solution focuse treatment models
  • Care for chronic conditions include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, thyroid conditions and depression/anxiety among many other common conditions.

Board certified orthodontist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 54% of Board Certified Orthodontists are proficient in Patients, Rehabilitation, and EMR. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Organizational skills, and Patience.

We break down the percentage of Board Certified Orthodontists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 54%

    Provided pastoral/spiritual care to patients and/or families under direction of mentoring chaplains during training.

  • Rehabilitation, 18%

    Provided humanitarian services to the indigent and community outreach centers including drug and alcohol rehabilitation and tobacco cessation programs.

  • EMR, 6%

    Licensed in MA, NH, and ME ServSafe Trained Proficiency in Microsoft Office, EMR, CPR+, Yardi

  • Patient Care, 6%

    Completed administrative functions associated with patient care.

  • Internal Medicine, 5%

    General knowledge of Pediatrics, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Internal Medicine.

  • Board Certification, 3%

    Board certification is granted in recognition of documented practice experience and successful completion of an examination.

Common skills that a board certified orthodontist uses to do their job include "patients," "rehabilitation," and "emr." You can find details on the most important board certified orthodontist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a board certified orthodontist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what board certified orthodontists do because "dentists must communicate effectively with patients, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and receptionists." Additionally, a board certified orthodontist resume shows how board certified orthodontists use communication skills: "make patients feel comfortable with interpersonal communication. "

Organizational skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling board certified orthodontist duties is organizational skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "keeping accurate records of patient care is critical in both medical and business settings." According to a board certified orthodontist resume, here's how board certified orthodontists can utilize organizational skills in their job responsibilities: "developed organizational techniques and policies to ensure all the patients records/financials were properly maintained and billed on time. "

Patience. This is an important skill for board certified orthodontists to perform their duties. For an example of how board certified orthodontist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "dentists may work for long periods with patients who need special attention, including children and those with a fear of dental work." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a board certified orthodontist: "assisted patients with checking in/ checking out scheduled appointments for patience".

Problem-solving skills. A big part of what board certified orthodontists do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to board certified orthodontist responsibilities because "dentists must evaluate patients’ symptoms and choose the appropriate treatment." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical board certified orthodontist tasks: "use of family systems theory, cbt, dbt, and solution focused treatment models"

Detail oriented. A commonly-found skill in board certified orthodontist job descriptions, "detail oriented" is essential to what board certified orthodontists do. Board certified orthodontist responsibilities rely on this skill because "dentists must pay attention to the shape and color of teeth and to the space between them." You can also see how board certified orthodontist duties rely on detail oriented in this resume example: "register new patients and update existing detailed patient information including personal and financial information. "

Most common board certified orthodontist skills

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Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume
Board Certified Orthodontist Resume

Compare different board certified orthodontists

Board certified orthodontist vs. Orthodontist assistant

An orthodontist is responsible for evaluating the dental records, including x-ray and surgery results of a patient, administering medications to treat dental issues and avoid further health complications. Orthodontists perform adjustments on the patients' dental condition, including teeth improvement procedures, by utilizing dental equipment and tools for operations. They inspect the efficiency of the operating equipment and machine, ensuring its stability and top-performance condition by conducting regular maintenance and sterilizing equipment to prevent contamination that may affect dental results.

If we compare the average board certified orthodontist annual salary with that of an orthodontist assistant, we find that orthodontist assistants typically earn a $102,490 lower salary than board certified orthodontists make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between board certified orthodontists and orthodontist assistants are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, patient care, and patient education.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a board certified orthodontist are more likely to require skills like "rehabilitation," "psychiatry," "emr," and "internal medicine." On the other hand, a job as an orthodontist assistant requires skills like "scheduling appointments," "chair side," "oral hygiene," and "study models." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, orthodontist assistants reach lower levels of education than board certified orthodontists. Orthodontist assistants are 13.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 18.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Board certified orthodontist vs. Orthodontist

On average, orthodontists earn a $1,775 lower salary than board certified orthodontists a year.A few skills overlap for board certified orthodontists and orthodontists. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "patients," "private practice," and "patient education. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that board certified orthodontist responsibilities requires skills like "rehabilitation," "psychiatry," "emr," and "patient care." But an orthodontist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "diagnosis," "osha," "ortho," and "group practice."

Orthodontists earn similar levels of education than board certified orthodontists in general. They're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 18.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Types of board certified orthodontist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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