The qualifications and skills that you need to start a career in orthodontics depend on the job for which you wish to apply. An orthodontist needs to graduate from dental school. After earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree, you need to study orthodontics as part of a postgraduate program. An orthodontist’s assistant has a certificate or associate degree in dental assisting. A dental lab technician, who makes customized dental appliances, needs an associate’s degree in dental laboratory technology.