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Smilebliss - Sacramento, CA
Merced, California

Associate Orthodontist

DentistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 2h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Position Overview

As our Associate Orthodontist, you will serve as the Smilebliss Clinical Leader, delivering high-quality orthodontic care while ensuring consistent execution of the Smilebliss mission: Affordability, a Blissful Experience, and Time Efficiency.

You will create confident smiles through exceptional clinical care, clear communication, and a patient-centered approach.

This role is responsible for diagnosing and treating patients, supporting treatment acceptance, and partnering with the team to deliver an outstanding patient experience that reflects the Smilebliss model.

Smilebliss Model Delivery

Clinical Excellence and Patient Care

  • Conduct comprehensive orthodontic examinations and develop appropriate treatment plans
  • Deliver high-quality orthodontic treatment using braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic appliances
  • Monitor treatment progress and make adjustments to ensure optimal outcomes
  • Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation

Patient Education and Treatment Acceptance

  • Clearly communicate treatment recommendations, benefits, and expected outcomes
  • Help patients understand their treatment options and feel confident moving forward with care
  • Support same-day treatment starts through education, trust-building, and effective communication
  • Address patient questions and concerns professionally and compassionately

Practice Performance and Efficiency

  • Support efficient patient flow and on-time scheduling
  • Collaborate with the team to maximize schedule productivity and patient satisfaction
  • Follow Smilebliss operational standards
  • Contribute to practice growth through excellent patient care and strong treatment acceptance

Team Collaboration and Leadership

  • Partner with clinical and administrative team members to create a positive patient experience
  • Provide guidance and support to orthodontic assistants and team members
  • Foster a professional, collaborative, and patient-focused culture
  • Lead by example through professionalism, accountability, and commitment to excellence

Qualifications

  • DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school
  • Orthodontic residency training or significant orthodontic treatment experience preferred
  • Active dental license (or ability to obtain licensure in the state of practice)
  • Experience providing orthodontic treatment, including braces and clear aligners
  • Strong clinical and diagnostic skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Alignment with Smilebliss mission and values

What We Offer

  • Competitive compensation
  • Established patient flow
  • Modern technology and systems
  • Clinical autonomy within proven operational systems
  • Supportive team culture
  • Opportunities for growth and leadership

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Orthodontist will conduct comprehensive examinations, develop treatment plans, and deliver high-quality orthodontic care using braces and clear aligners. They will also collaborate with the clinical team to ensure efficient patient flow and maintain high standards of patient satisfaction.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

OrthodonticsClinical diagnosisTreatment planningTeam leadership

Orthodontics Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Dentist market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedDentist median $275k (middle half $39k–$372k)11 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingCalifornia index 110.7US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Dentist listings in California579 active5,727 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia healthcare professional listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $20k) · 4% offer loan repayment579 active listings, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Orthodontics Jobs

1 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Orthodontist

Compton Orthodontics - Bowling Green · Bowling Green, Kentucky

$416k-$468k

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Better work-life than 20% of Dentist listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,154 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Benefits & Perks

Competitive compensation
Established patient flow
Modern technology and systems
Clinical autonomy within proven operational systems
Supportive team culture
Opportunities for growth and leadership

Living in Merced

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$370k
Typical market rent
$2,041/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
98.3
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Merced, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.