Also called: Ortho Assistant, Orthodontic Technician
Helps the orthodontist put on braces, change wires, and scan teeth for clear aligners.
Glues brackets onto teeth, swaps rubber bands for a dozen kids after school, and takes 3D digital scans that become clear aligner trays.
Estimate based on BLS dental assistants.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma plus on-the-job training or a dental assisting certificate; state rules vary.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Dental Assisting (certificate).
Growing about average. Tracks dental assistants.
Low risk for 10 years. Aligner scanning grows, but bracket placement, wire changes and helping kids chairside stay hands-on.
Age 18+. One way to start: Get a CPR/BLS card, then apply to orthodontic offices that train on the job First: CPR/BLS card; x-ray or registration rules vary by state
Classes: Biology, Health-science CTE, Art.
Official data: O*NET occupation 31-9091.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.