Orthotic Fitter - Career Profile |
Career OverviewAn orthotic fitter has the very specialized job of pre-making prosthetics that are used in dentures, dental implants and other specialized corrective dental devices. The orthotic fitter must be able to read the specific information provided by the dentists or other dental or medical professional and create a prosthesis that is made exactly to specifications.
This is very important to ensure the device fits properly in the patient’s mouth and does not cause any discomfort or complications with the dental treatment plan.
An orthotic fitter has to be very exact and able to work effectively in translating written information and actual molds into working dental prosthetics. He or she should be skilled in using small equipment and should have a strong ability to problem solve and work under deadlines and strict timelines. The orthotic fitter will also have to work with the dental treatment team, although they will usually have no direct contact with the patients at all.
In addition the orthotic fitter should have a good understanding of dental development and should be able to understand basic dental information and diagnoses. Since often the prosthesis will be to assist a patient that has been in an accident or recovering from a trauma or deforming medical condition he or she should also have a strong background in basic medical issues relating to the facial area.
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Career RequirementsAn orthotic fitter must have at least high school diploma or equivalent as well as complete a two-year associates or certification program at an accredited orthotic or prosthetic school. In addition the orthotic fitter should be licensed in the state that he or she works according to the governing body for orthotic and prosthetics within that state.
Several states offer an apprenticeship program that requires that the student work with an already lisenced and experienced orthotic fitter for at least three years and then pass all licensing requirements before they can work without direct supervision.
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Job OutlookJobs within dental orthotics have an average employment rate as they increase at a rate between three and seven percent per year. The largest employer of orthotic fitters are pre-fabrication companies and small and large orthotic or prosthetic labs across the country.
Some long-term care facilities, veterans hospitals and treatment centers as well as other governmental agencies also employ orthotic fitters. In addition very large dentists offices may also have orthotic fitters on staff or may use orthotic fitters in a contract type arrangement.
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Career TrackAn experienced orthotic fitter can move into management positions with the various organizations that employ these professionals, or they may also act as supervisors for those individuals working on apprenticeship programs. In addition many medical or dental supply or equipment companies hire orthotic fitters as sales representatives or for customer assistance positions.
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CompensationDepending on location, experience and area of specialization an orthotic fitter can average between $25,000 to $36,000 per year. Since the job is basically a laboratory or production based job there is little overtime or weekend work required for most positions.
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