Orthodontist Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for an Orthodontist is to demonstrate a solid understanding of orthodontic treatments, showcase excellent patient communication skills, and provide evidence of successful treatment outcomes.

Situational interview questions

• You have a patient who is experiencing severe pain after getting braces put on. What steps will you take to assess and address the patient’s pain while ensuring their teeth properly aligned?
• A patient who had a retainer fitted complains of a persistent, dull pain in their lower teeth even after wearing it for a few days. What steps will you take to investigate and help alleviate the patient’s pain with minimal impact on their treatment progress?
• Your dental office has experienced scheduling mix-ups that resulted in two urgent cases being booked at the same time. How will you handle this situation efficiently to ensure both patients receive timely and quality treatment?
• A patient comes in with a broken wire that resulted in a tooth getting pushed out of alignment. What would be your approach to fix the issue to retain proper alignment without causing further damage to the tooth?
• During a routine check-up, you discover that one of your patients has started grinding their teeth, which may cause underlying problems such as dental fracture or sensitivity. What course of action will you take to help prevent these issues and address the patient’s grinding problem?

Soft skills interview questions

• Describe a situation where you had to communicate complex information to a patient in a way they could understand. How did you ensure the patient felt empowered to make a decision about their orthodontic treatment?
• Tell us about a time when you had to be empathetic with a patient who was experiencing discomfort or anxiety during a procedure. How did you show compassion while still completing the task at hand?
• How do you handle difficult conversations with patients or their families, such as discussing the need for additional treatment or addressing concerns about financial obligations? Can you give an example of a successful outcome from one of these discussions?
• In your opinion, what is the most important quality an orthodontist should possess in order to establish a strong rapport with patients? How do you actively cultivate this quality in your professional life?
• Describe a time when you had to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, such as a dentist, oral surgeon or pediatrician, to provide comprehensive care for a patient. How did you ensure effective communication and coordination of care?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you explain different types of orthodontic appliances you have worked with in detail and the situations where you considered them for a patient?
• How do you approach complex orthodontic cases, especially when patients suffer from congenital malocclusions or cleft lip and palate?
• Can you talk about your experience with interdisciplinary collaboration with other dental specialists like periodontists, endodontists, or oral surgeons during the treatment of malocclusions?
• How do you ensure the accuracy of treatment planning for complex orthodontic cases with the help of diagnostic tools like cephalometric radiographs, 3D imaging, or plaster models?
• How do you manage orthodontic emergencies such as loose braces, broken wires or brackets, infections, and pain management?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you share a situation where you had to correct a complex dental problem for a patient and what was your task in that situation? Walk me through the action steps you took to bring about the desired result?

2. Tell me about a time when your patients had an adverse reaction to orthodontic treatment. What was your task, and how did you resolve the situation? What was the final result?

3. Can you describe an unusual or challenging case you had to handle when treating a patient? What was your task, and what steps did you take to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient? What was the end result?

4. Can you share a situation where you had to deal with a patient or their parents’ unrealistic expectations about the outcome of orthodontic treatment? What was your task, and how did you handle the situation? What was the final result?

5. Tell me about a case where the patient’s orthodontic problem was beyond your expertise, and you needed to refer them to a specialist. What was your task, and how did you handle the situation? What was the final result?