Orthodontist
Becoming an Orthodontist
The Specialty of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
When most people think of orthodontist, braces are one of the things that comes to mind first and that is a key to what orthodontics do. Orthodontist are dentist who have specialized in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and their main job is to help patients with preventive measures to minimize and correct malocclusions which are misalignment of teeth caused by irregular dental development with the teeth, muscle, and jawbones. Orthodontists are trained to understand the growth patterns of teeth, find problems in spacing, discover issues with bone growth, and to produce a plan to fix one or a combination of these problems. This means they deal with problems with teeth crowding, under bites, overbites, straightening of the teeth, alignment of the dental bones, and other malocclusions. Corrective methods include the use of braces, retainers, jawbone surgery, and other techniques and instruments. Making smiles and faces look more aesthetically pleasing makes them part of the cosmetic dentistry group.
To become successful orthodontists requires a lot of training and communication skills. They must be able to quantify the possible problems areas and come up with a solution to solve the problems. This can be complicated because of how the teeth will grow out and complications with the jawbones and can require a joint treatment plan with other professionals such as pediatric dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and others. They deal with children, teens, and adults and must be able to explain the problems and treatment clearly so patients follow the corrective process. They also need to keep up with the latest orthodontic technology which has made it easier to straighten teeth and fix other malocclusions than in the past. Invisalign is an example of a new style of braces. Orthodontists may also choose to perform general dentistry treatments as well.
Orthodontist Education
Although some dentists perform orthodontic treatment like applying braces, they cannot be labeled as orthodontists, who are fully trained and educated through a program accredited by the Council on Dental Education and Licensure, a unit of the American Dental Association. The level of experience that orthodontists have is much higher because of the extra education which can range from 2 to 3 years. This includes extra clinical cases where they can examine and participate in treatment options for a wide range of issues. This extra training helps them in the future just like any other field.
There are 63 orthodontist education programs that are 2 to 3 years in length and end with either a certificate, master’s degree, or both after completion. Acceptance into an orthodontist program is very competitive as most only accept only a few candidates out of hundreds of applicants. Those that have residency programs may offer a stipend or require tuition. The orthodontist training programs include clinical education and training, projects, and research. There are also programs that offer dual certification in orthodontics/pediatric dentistry or orthodontics/ periodontics and those that lead to a PhD. The cost of orthodontist school will vary depending on each individual school and examples are $23,000 in-state for the University of North Carolina, $93,010 for the University of Pennsylvania, and a $23,625 stipend for the 1st year for US and Canadian residents at the University of Rochester. For a list of schools visit the Orthodontist Schools section.
After graduation from an orthodontic program, orthodontist may become board certified through the American Board of Orthodontics.
Orthodontist Salary
The ADA listed in a 2007 survey that dental specialist had an average earnings of over $353,280. In the Bureau of Labor and Statistics report for 2009, the mean annual wage for orthodontists was $206,190. Just like general dentist, an orthodontist makes their own schedule and the more services they work, the higher their income. Visit Orthodontist Salary for more detailed income information.
