Orthodontists
Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.
Orthodontists examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance. The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Doctoral or professional degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.26 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking.
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Orthodontists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Entrance exam NEET-UG for admission to BDS[1]
- 2 · Qualification BDS degree from a recognised dental college[2]
- 3 · Registration Registration as a dentist (Indian Dentists Register / State Dental Council)[2]
- 4 · Qualification NEET-MDS for a postgraduate seat, then MDS in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics[3][2]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- MCC UG Medical Counselling — Medical Counselling Committee, MoHFW (read on 2026-09-27)
- National Dental Commission (formerly DCI) — home (read on 2026-09-27)
- MCC MDS Counselling — Medical Counselling Committee, MoHFW (read on 2026-09-27)
Entrance exams on this route — Dates, eligibility and cut-offs for the exams on the way to this career:
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
What you'd actually do
- Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
- Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
- Study diagnostic records, such as medical or dental histories, plaster models of the teeth, photos of a patient's face and teeth, and X-rays, to develop patient treatment plans.
- Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
- Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
- Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Orthodontists do?
Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.
What is the job outlook for Orthodontists?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 5,900 workers.
How do I become a orthodontists?
The typical entry education is a Doctoral or professional degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Orthodontists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Orthodontists?
Our AI-durability model gives Orthodontists a score of 0.26 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Orthodontists has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.