How to become An Orthodontist

• Board Certified Orthodontist
• Orthodontics Specialist
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist

What do Orthodontists do?

An Orthodontist would typically need to:

• Treat their patients, primarily children & teenagers, by straightening irregular teeth, misaligned bites (malocclusion), or crooked smiles associated with developing jaws, usually by fitting either fixed or removable braces or retainers to teeth
• Deal with other conditions in their patients, such as jaw pain, speech impediments, sleep apnea, gum disease, and difficulty chewing
• Examine the patient’s mouth and teeth for oral cavity anomalies, taking photographs or x-rays; take an impression of the teeth using a specially mixed mold
• Study diagnostic records, such as medical or dental histories, plaster models of the teeth, photos of a patient's face and teeth, and X-rays, to diagnose dental-facial abnormalities/dental conditions and develop patient treatment plans
• Design an orthodontic program for the twofold purpose of helping patients achieve and maintain properly functioning jaws while also perfecting their smiles
• Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates; communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members
• Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance
• Extract teeth or carry out other jaw surgery, if necessary; inject the gums with a local anaesthetic, if necessary
• Advise the patient on how to care for the teeth and braces; check up regularly on progress and make any necessary adjustments
• Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services; run the business and take care of the financials, if self-employed

An Orthodontist might work in a hospital, a specialist practice, or a community dental service clinic. In any setting, their working environment is usually pleasant, well-lit, and sanitary.

Full-time Orthodontists usually work 35 to 40 hours every week. Typically, their schedules are flexible and adjusted to suit the needs of their patients and their own. Often, this may involve working in the evenings and during weekends.

Typically, unlike other healthcare professionals, Orthodontists do not need to work nights or stay on call.

Some even continue with part-time practice post-retirement.

Qualified Orthodontists can expect to work in healthcare organisations or private offices of physicians. Look out for job openings in employment journals, newspaper advertisements, and career websites. Placement offices at dental schools are a helpful resource for recent graduates.

You could be the owner of private specialised practice, working solitary or with a small staff, or running the practice with a partner. You could take up work in a community hospital or work as an associate dentist for well-established dentists. Equipped with relevant training and qualifications, you could become a hospital consultant. Entering academia is another choice, which would entail teaching orthodontics at university.

Orthodontists are generally employed by:

• Dentists’ Offices
• General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
• Physicians’ Offices
• Universities & Colleges

Membership in one or more regional, national, or international professional associations adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications. Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Orthodontists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

For instance, the IAO (International Association for Orthodontics) offers diverse programs in orthodontics training, education, professional support, clinical experience, and literature.

• Stressful to run your own business, maintain an office, attract clientele, deal with malpractice insurance, and hire & retain staff
• Monotonous work after placing the brackets, bands, and ligatures as one is then mostly just replacing wires and tightening
• The need to wear gloves and be aware of infections like hepatitis, HIV, and other blood-related diseases

In medicine and dentistry, the residency period typically serves as traditional internships to chalk up practical experience. The requirement to work at least two years before applying for a course in orthodontics helps to provide postgraduate clinical experience. Try to acquire a breadth of experience during your training periods.

Spend time with an Orthodontist if you are considering working as one - it would help you determine if it is the right career for you. Some orthodontic facilities offer placements for school students interested in this career, an opportunity with the potential to translate into a career in orthodontics for many.

The goal is similar, but aspiring Orthodontists may approach it from two directions, depending on location.

The first requires you to complete a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree, with courses in biology, physics, and chemistry, followed by dental school for four years. You could also enrol in a pre-medicine program to complete all the requirements and become eligible to pursue a graduate degree in dentistry.

Prospective Orthodontists then apply for post-graduate residency programs, ranging from a certificate in orthodontics (typically two years), a master’s (three years), or a doctorate (four years). Graduation from residency allows Orthodontists to pursue a craniofacial fellowship that provides further specialisation in the treatment of cleft lip/palate and syndromic patients. Count 10-14+ years to achieve an orthodontist’s qualification, which you can top up by accredited board certification.

The second pathway is to gain admission directly from high school into dental school, a five-year program to earn your Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree. Having completed dental foundation training and with at least two years of experience post-BDS qualification, you can apply to speciality orthodontic training, a three-year program that trains to a specialist level.

A specialist can then continue further training for two more years to reach the consultant level. Orthodontic consultants usually work in hospitals. They are qualified to tackle more complex orthodontic treatment such as orthognathic surgery and deal with hypodontia, craniofacial anomalies, and sleep apnoea. They may engage in teaching and management assignments within hospital or university departments and also work in private practice.

Keep in mind that, depending on your location, you may need to pass a standardised entrance exam in addition to achieving requisite high school grades to enrol in dental school. Once admitted into the program, you could choose to pursue your degree in dental surgery, medical dentistry, etc.

Orthodontists may choose to become board certified by taking a written, clinical, and oral exam offered through a board of orthodontists accredited in your location. In some places, to practice as a specialist, in addition to specialist training in a recognised and accredited program, you would need to pass exams to gain membership to relevant and official bodies as well as be added to mandatory and official lists/registers.

Typically, Orthodontists must be licensed according to regional and national requirements to practice. Individual government entities conduct the licensure process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship.

Career progression is driven by performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

You are likely to start your career as an Orthodontist working as an associate of an established dentist. With adequate experience tucked away, you can establish your private orthodontic practice. Or you may choose to enter academia and take up research work or fill faculty positions in dental schools and colleges. To advance in orthodontics, orthodontists must be well aware of all the latest developments in the field.

Typically, Orthodontists who keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the field have the best prospects. However, under slow economic conditions, they may confront an overall reduced demand for their specialised services.

Continuing professional development is the holistic commitment of professionals towards enhancing personal skills, knowledge, and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are many CPD courses, seminars, and workshops out there to help professionals in the field.

CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It prevents practical and academic qualifications from becoming outdated and allows individuals to identify any knowledge gaps.

Although CPD is helpful in various professions, it is crucial in the healthcare sector. It has important implications for public well-being by enhancing the quality of care that patients and clients receive. Orthodontists can fulfil several goals by undertaking CPD. It allows improvement of existing services while learning new techniques and disciplines. You can thereby possess more advanced professional qualifications to carry out treatments safely and effectively, and you can expand your list of patients and become a reference point in dental medicine.

Those healthcare professionals who actively choose to expand their skill-sets and meet the requirements of their respective regulatory bodies will be in favourable positions professionally.

Differentiating Between a Dentist and an Orthodontist

A dentist is a doctor who works with the mouth, jaw, teeth, gums, and nerves. Orthodontics is a specialised branch of dentistry concerned with the growing jaw, teeth, and face. The priority of Orthodontists is to straighten teeth. Simply stated, all orthodontists are dentists, but few dentists are orthodontists.

Why Children?

While people of all ages may need and wear braces, children in their teens make up the bulk of people who wear orthodontic braces for an extended period, two-three years approximately. It is an ideal age for wearing braces because the teeth and face are in a time of constant and significant growth, and it is better to catch and correct any teeth alignment issues early on instead of later.

An Orthodontist’s Toolkit

Braces are the most common tool an Orthodontist uses to solve alignment issues. These appliances are bands that encircle the teeth. The orthodontist bonds brackets on the front of the teeth, and the bands connect to them via wires. The different elements work together, and the structures pull teeth into an upright alignment. While the straightening process takes time, it is effective.

The aligner is an option to use instead of braces. They are cosmetically more appealing since they are not visible from a distance and do not use metal wires or brackets. Plus, they are removable, unlike braces.

In extreme cases, an Orthodontist may resort to using a palate expander that widens the arch of the upper jaw, giving the area more space. A stronger solution to align teeth is to use headgear that connects the back of the head to a wire in the front of the mouth. It aims to pull back front teeth while slowing the growth of the upper jaw.

What do Faith Hill, Emma Watson, Tom Cruise, and even Prince Harry all have in common? Braces. Orthodontists are responsible for these devices and the beautiful pearly white smiles they create.

A visit to the Orthodontist may result in temporary discomfort in the mouth, but it provides long-lasting mental comfort to the patient to worry less about their teeth. Your satisfaction in the orthodontic work you do daily derives from seeing your patient’s growing confidence in their smile and themselves. You will feel rewarded knowing that you have used your toolkit skilfully to address malocclusion and thereby helped resolve other issues as well.

Try to intern in a dental clinic or shadow a dental professional. Go ahead and ask a dentist that you know! Being good with people is essential in this profession. You should love what you do, so just be sure to pick a location that you enjoy, too.