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Orthodontics/Orthodontology

A program that focuses on the advanced study of the guidance of growing dental structures and the correction of misalignments, disproportionate growth, and traumas caused by genetics, disease, injuries, and dysfunctional behaviors. Includes instruction in craniofacial growth and development, malocclusion, design and fabrication of orthodontic appliances, craniofacial alignment, physiological function and analysis, cephalometrics, model analysis, space analysis, surgical orthodontics, cleft lip and palate, and treatment planning and management. Examples: [Orthodontics/Orthodontology (Cert.)], [Orthodontics/Orthodontology (MS)], [Orthodontics/Orthodontology (PhD)], [Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics]

Types of Degrees Orthodontics/Orthodontology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Orthodontics/Orthodontology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	323

What Orthodontics/Orthodontology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Orthodontics/Orthodontology build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Orthodontics/Orthodontology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 5.5 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Orthodontics/Orthodontology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Orthodontics/Orthodontology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.0 / 7
Developing and Building Teams	4.0 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.0 / 7
Working with Computers	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Orthodontics/Orthodontology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
FYI Technologies Dr. View	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Adstra Systems ADSTRA Management	Medical software	—
Ortho Computer Systems ViewPoint	Medical software	—
FYI Technologies Dr. Ceph	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
American Orthodontics Photo-Eze	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Advance Ortho Systems Program Director	Medical software	—
Ada	Development environment software	—
Innovative Software Inn-Soft Office Manager	Medical software	—
Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management	Medical software	—
ICE Dental Systems	Medical software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates include:

• Dentofacial Orthopedics Dentist
• Invisible Braces Orthodontist
• Orthodontic Treatment Coordinator
• Board Certified Orthodontist
• Pediatric Orthodontist
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist
• Orthodontic Dentist
• Orthodontic Specialist
• Dental Treatment Coordinator
• Orthodontics Doctor
• Orthodontist
• Doctor
• College Professor
• Music Therapy Teacher
• Corrective Therapy Aide Teacher

What Can You Do With a Orthodontics/Orthodontology Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Orthodontics/Orthodontology commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	10.7%	$46,663	$40,304–$53,022

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Post-doctoral training	50.9%
Doctoral degree	16.7%
Master’s degree	13.0%
Bachelor’s degree	6.2%
Postsecondary certificate	6.0%
First professional degree	4.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.0%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Orthodontics/Orthodontology?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 59.8% women and 40.2% men among Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	193	59.8%
Men	130	40.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	171	52.9%
Asian	56	17.3%
Hispanic or Latino	27	8.4%
Black or African American	11	3.4%
Two or More Races	12	3.7%
Race Unknown	14	4.3%
International Students	32	9.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Orthodontics/Orthodontology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$209,489
4 years	$191,956
5 years	$225,886

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $225,886 — roughly 8% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Orthodontics/Orthodontology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Orthodontics/Orthodontology graduates earn a median of $191,956 four years after completion — roughly 405% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other	2,445
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences	1,981
Dental Clinical Sciences, General	426
Advanced General Dentistry	238
Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology	187
Endodontics/Endodontology	157
Pediatric Dentistry/Pedodontics	154
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Other	150
Prosthodontics/Prosthodontology	95
Dental Public Health and Education	84
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery	41
Dental Materials	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.