Orthodontists
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Job description
These individuals prevent, diagnose, and correct jaw deformities and misaligned teeth. They develop a treatment plan to improve dental and facial appearance as well as dental function. They prepare the specifications of corrective appliances before these are manufactured. They fit and adjust dental devices to correct dentofacial deformities. They are self-employed or work for:
- Laboratories
- Dental schools
- Hospital centres
- Dental offices
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Biological agents
- Radiation
Main tasks
- Examine the mouth, teeth, gums, and adjacent tissues.
- Design and adjust dentures and retainers.
- Take X-rays.
- Write prescriptions for denturists and dental technicians.
- Provide the necessary support to patients to help them adapt to wearing a corrective device.
- Educate patients about home hygiene practices and food restrictions during their treatment.
- Follow up with the patient after the treatment.
Training and requirements
Formation
Also required
Membership in the Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ [Quebec Order of Dentists]) required.
Sometimes required
A certificate from the National Dental Examining Board of Canada required to practice the profession in a Canadian province.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Result evaluation
- Judgment and decision-making
- Solving complex problems
- Science
- Critical thought
- Equipment selection
- Service oriented
- Oral expression
- Teaching
- Operations and control
- Learning strategies
- Reading comprehension
- Material resource management
- Persuasion
- Financial resource management
- Troubleshooting
- Equipment maintenance
- Repair
- Information processing
- Social perception
- Active listening
- Monitoring operations
- Active learning
- Coordination
- Quality control analysis
- Technological design
Abilities
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Hand-arm stability
- Near vision
- Awareness of issues
- Control accuracy
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Spatial orientation
- Selective attention
- Depth perception
- Limb coordination
- Speech clarity
- Information organization
- Processing flexibility
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Written comprehension
- Memorization
- Classification
- Overall balance of the body
- Perception speed
- Written expression
- Information processing speed
- Reaction time
- Overall coordination of the body
- Speech recognition
- Wrist-finger speed
- Static muscle power
- Peripheral vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Knowledge of customer and personalized services
- Capacity to work in a team
- Capacity to delegate
- Attention to detail
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Knowledge of biology
- Patience
- Knowledge of medicine or dentistry
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Work in an office
- Carry out research
- Make, build, install
- Self-employment
- Work manually
- Teach or educate
- Assist or care for people
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Dentists (CNP 31110)
Skill type
Health
Last update: January 29, 2026