How to Become an Orthodontist
Do you want a job in medicine without taking on long shifts, performing surgeries, or being on call? Then a job as an orthodontist may be for you. Orthodontists often work typical office hours and rarely deal with emergency cases, which creates a stable and fairly predictable work environment. As an orthodontist, you’ll be a specialized dentist helping patients by correcting dental flaws.
Intrigued? Read on to learn how to become an orthodontist.
What Is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has additional training after dental school. Orthodontists specialize in treating dental flaws, for example over- and under-bites and overcrowded teeth. While patients sometimes see orthodontists for cosmetic reasons, the problems that orthodontists treat can also have medical implications, such as speech impairments or gum disease.
What Is an Orthodontist vs. a Dentist?
All orthodontists are dentists, have a dental license, and are licensed to do dental work, but most dentists aren’t orthodontists. The difference between an orthodontist vs. a dentist is that general dentists focus on oral health, like treating tooth decay, while orthodontists focus on correcting orthodontic issues. Orthodontists can do the same work as dentists, but often don’t since they get paid more to perform treatments in their field of specialty. A typical orthodontist salary is significantly higher than a dentist’s salary.
What Does an Orthodontist Do?
Orthodontists prevent, diagnose, and treat dental flaws and other orthodontic problems. They don’t perform surgery, but they do use tools such as braces, aligners, and retainers. If a patient needs surgery, the orthodontist will refer them to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Although they have a team of office staff supporting them, orthodontists may also have some administrative responsibilities, such as writing charts and progress reports.
These are some examples of problems orthodontists treat:
- crooked teeth
- bite problems
- teeth that are too far apart or too close together
- jaw misalignment
- accidents or trauma to the mouth
- protruding teeth
You can learn more about the typical job tasks of an orthodontist in Monster’s job description for orthodontists.
How to Become an Orthodontist
To become an orthodontist, you’ll first go through the steps to become dentist, which include:
- Complete a dental school program.
- Pass the National Board Dental Examination.
- Apply for a dental license.
You can learn more about these steps in our article on how to become a dentist. Make sure to choose an educational program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, since this will qualify you to earn a license.
You will then complete an additional orthodontics training program that combines clinical practice with academic training. These programs take place at a dental school or the dentistry department of a college or university. Some will enable you to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in orthodontics. This program should be accredited by CODA as well. You can find a list of accredited programs on their website.
While you’ll need high grades to get into dental school, competition for orthodontics programs is even higher. You’ll need to be a top student in dental school to get into an orthodontics program, so keep that in mind when you embark on your studies.
How Long Is Orthodontist School?
Orthodontist school is between two and four years. Most programs are two to three years, but if you attend a four-year program, you could obtain a doctor degree in orthodontics upon completion. This title can make you more competitive on the job market, but all orthodontists are called doctors, whether they attend a two- or four-year program, because they already have a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor or Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.
How to Become an Orthodontist: Licenses and Certifications
Orthodontists usually need a dental license to practice. This needs to be renewed on a regular basis, depending on the requirements in your state. Because of this, it makes sense to wait until you complete schooling to apply for a license, unless you want to practice as a general dentist before your orthodontist program.
Besides the required license, you can also get an optional certification from the American Board of Orthodontics, which can give you advantages on the job market. To apply for this, you’ll need to pass a written exam and an oral exam, which includes a presentation of some of your past cases. Although you can use cases from your residency, many orthodontists wait until they have practiced a few years to get board certified. You will need to reapply every 10 years once you’re certified.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Orthodontist?
It takes about 10 to 12 years to become an orthodontist after high school. This is the typical timeline:
- Bachelor’s degree: about four years
- DMD or DDS degree: about four years
- Orthodontist training program: two to four years
How to Become an Orthodontist: Needed Skills
You’ll need great attention to detail and good vision to practice as an orthodontist, as well as excellent hand-eye coordination. Besides the required clinical skills, it’s important to have an empathetic and patient personality.
It’s common for orthodontists to have a lot of pediatric patients, ranging from younger children to teenagers. It’s therefore an advantage if you’re skilled at interacting with younger patients. You may need to improvise to calm a nervous or restless child. Naturally, adults can also get anxious, so having a calm personality overall is a great advantage. Good communication skills in general are important for this profession—you’ll need them to explain complex procedures to patients with little clinical knowledge.
Good interpersonal skills can also help you advance in your field, especially since dentists often refer patients to orthodontists. If you’re skilled at networking, it can bring you more patients.
How Much Do Orthodontists Make?
The mean annual orthodontist salary is $267,280, compared with $167,160 for a dentist. Compare salaries for different areas using Monster’s Salary Tools. Some orthodontists have their own practice, while others work for a clinic or other healthcare practice. If you’re employed, you might get a percentage of the income from billing or get paid a set amount.
How to Become an Orthodontist: The Next Step
Once you’ve met the requirements to practice as an orthodontist, it’s time to look for jobs. If you practiced as a dentist before, give your resume and cover letter a facelift to reflect your new qualifications. Get some tips in our article on how to update your resume, and then browse our library of articles on cover letters.
You can also use Monster to search for orthodontist jobs nationwide, or to limit your section to the places with the highest demand for orthodontists. The top five states and cities for jobs in orthodontics, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are:
Align Your Career With Your Goals on Monster
Is your current job misaligned with your career goals? Or perhaps your current paychecks are too far between? Now that you know how to become an orthodontist, sign up for free with Monster to get more career advice in your inbox. If you’re ready to apply to jobs, you can also use your profile to get your resume in our database for recruiters and hiring managers, as well as to apply directly to jobs you find here.