Duties and responsibilities dental profession it involves straightening teeth and correcting bites. As an orthodontist, something you are responsible for is locating problems with the positioning of patients' teeth and with their oral development. You might use x-rays or plaster molds of your patients' teeth to do this. Salary $192,600 per year Education After earning an undergraduate degree in order to gain admission to a dental school, prospective orthodontists must earn a professional degree in dentistry. After completing dental school, aspiring orthodontists pursue a post-degree training program or a 1-2-year residency in orthodontics. Demand or need for this profession Employment of dentists is projected to grow 18 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. There are many other things you need for this profession.