Orthodontists are healthcare professionals who specialize in dentistry, specifically in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting irregularities in the teeth and jaw to improve alignment and appearance.
Education and Qualifications
To become an orthodontist, one has to take a similar educational path as any other healthcare professional—a four-year bachelor’s degree followed by four more years of dental school. The DAT (Dental Acceptance Test) is required to get into dental school. Dental school usually includes two years of classroom studies and two years of residential practice. Orthodontics is just one of the specialties in dentistry; orthodontists straighten the teeth by moving them through bone structure using braces or other corrective appliances. When they graduate from dental school, they receive Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) credentials.
Endodontist, Periodontist, Prosthodontist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist, Dentist Anesthesiologists, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist, Pediatric Dentist or Pedodontist, Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine are other specialty options within dentistry.
Dentists take and pass the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) to obtain their dental licenses, and most states require state licensure before entering residency and practice.
To teach students at a university, some choose to pursue a Ph.D., though this is not a requirement.
Responsibilities and a Day in the Life
Orthodontists primarily work in private practice. They work regular business hours, 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. Some choose to open their practice on Saturdays as well.
Some daily responsibilities include the following:
- Performing various examinations to assess patient needs.
- Studying patient records and dental histories.
- Taking X-rays to understand teeth and jaw positions.
- Assessing conditions like under/overbites, spacing, crowding, etc.
- Diagnosing problems related to teeth and jaws.
- Designing and creating teeth molds.
- Discussing treatment plans and associated cost estimates with patients/family members.
- Fitting braces and other orthodontic appliances.
- Scheduling routine checkups with patients to adjust braces.
- Monitoring the progress of corrective treatment.
- Educating patients about routine dental care and steps to improve orthodontic care.
- Collaborating with other specialists, such as oral surgeons, to coordinate orthodontic services.
- Attending seminars and conferences and continuing to learn best practices and current developments in the orthodontist area.
- Hiring and training clinical staff members.
- Managing the practice and administrative staff to ensure high-quality patient care.
- In an academic setting, supervising residents and other staff.
Other Necessary Skills
- Attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Outstanding patient management skills.
- Excellent administrative and managerial skills.
Salary
Salary could vary based on the practice type, experience, location, etc. According to BLS, the median salary is about $267K.Â
Job Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about,
- 5K Orthodontists in 2021
- BLS does not provide Orthodontists-specific data, but overall, Physicians’ job outlook from 2021 to 2031 is 3% which is slower than the average job growth.
Summary
If you are passionate about improving patients’ health conditions, specifically in enhancing the alignment of teeth and facial appearance, and you are willing to invest 8+ years in becoming an orthodontist, you should consider this profession.
