Description
Examine, diagnose, and treat malocclusions and dentofacial anomalies in children and adolescents. Plan interceptive and comprehensive orthodontic care, and design and fit appliances to guide growth, realign teeth and jaws, maintain function, and improve appearance with age-appropriate behavior management and family education.
- • Fit and monitor pediatric orthodontic appliances, such as braces, expanders, space maintainers, and habit appliances, to guide tooth and jaw position.
- • Review pediatric diagnostic records, including medical and dental histories, digital scans, models, photos, cephalometrics, and X-rays, to develop growth-based treatment plans.
- • Diagnose malocclusions, dentofacial anomalies, and eruption or skeletal growth discrepancies in children and adolescents.
- • Examine patients to assess growth and development, airway and oral habits, eruption timing, and dental-facial structures.
- • Prepare and maintain diagnostic and treatment records, including progress photos, radiographs, models, and growth assessments.
- • Adjust and activate appliances to achieve planned tooth movement and jaw guidance while maintaining function and comfort.
- • Present treatment options, phases, timelines, and costs to parents or guardians and obtain informed consent.
- • Educate children and families on appliance care, oral hygiene, diet, and compliance to support successful outcomes.
- • Train and direct clinical staff and assistants in pediatric orthodontic protocols and behavior management techniques.
- • Coordinate care with pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, ENTs, speech and myofunctional therapists, and craniofacial teams as needed.
- • Design and prescribe age-appropriate appliances, such as space maintainers, palatal expanders, functional appliances, and retainers, and oversee fabrication.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Healthcare & Human Services
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026