What does it take to become an orthodontist? An undergraduate degree in dental hygiene, followed by either a two-year master’s program or a four-year doctoral program, would be the standard path to becoming an orthodontist, but many other options exist as well. Follow these 10 steps to learn more about how to become an orthodontist and pursue your dreams of helping people have straighter teeth and better smiles!
1) What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry, which can help adults as well as children. It focuses on straightening and aligning teeth, sometimes with braces and sometimes without. If you’re wondering what is orthodontics, or how to become an orthodontist, then keep reading! Here are 10 things you didn’t know about it
2) Types of Braces
Braces come in many colors, but there is a type of brace for almost everyone. Yellow braces, pink braces, clear braces--everyone can find a pair that matches their personality and style. The only thing to keep in mind is that color has nothing to do with treatment efficacy. If you’re having trouble deciding which color of brace you want, talk to your orthodontist about it—you may be surprised at how flexible they are! For example, if your orthodontist doesn’t have any yellow braces on hand but has plenty of pink ones available, they will probably happily help you pick out a pair without even asking too many questions!
3) How Much Does it Cost?
The cost of becoming an orthodontist will vary depending on your specific education and training. For example, some schools offer a traditional four-year degree, while others offer an accelerated program that cuts down on time spent in school. Either way, you can expect to pay at least $25,000 for your first two years of dental school. Plus, because you’ll have accrued four years of student loans during dental school (and it’s not like orthodontics is a quick degree), it’s likely that you’ll need more than two years of training.
4) What Kind of Degree Do I Need?
Most orthodontists have a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. However, some have a higher doctorate and go for a PhD degree. In both cases, it takes about four years to get through college and dental school.
5) Job Opportunities
Considering a career in orthodontics? Before you start working toward your degree, take some time to learn more about what it's like to be an orthodontist and how much money you can make. For starters, you're likely not aware that there are orthodontists who specialize in specific areas of expertise. What do they focus on? How much can they earn? Do men out-earn women? Read on to discover 10 things you may not know about becoming an orthodontist.
6) How Much Money Can I Make?
As with many high-paying career paths, orthodontists make a lot of money. The median salary for orthodontists is about $146,640 annually (via BLS). To become an orthodontist, you’ll need to graduate from dental school and complete a 3-year residency in orthodontics. After that, you can set up shop wherever you like – there are more than 4,000 practicing orthodontists in America.
7) What are the In's and Out's of Working in an Office Setting?
Working in an office can bring a wide range of benefits. However, some people may feel uncomfortable or unsure of how to behave in such a setting. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about working in an office setting ! 1. Your shoes are NOT allowed on top of your desk: Yes, we all do it... but it is actually against company policy! Don’t worry, though—your boss will just politely ask you to remove them if they ever notice your shoes on top of your desk. To avoid any awkward situations, try keeping extra shoe storage space under your desk where nobody else will see them! 2. Speaking loudly over calls is not OK: Like many jobs out there today that involve lots of phone time and work-related talks with clients and other business colleagues, speaking loudly over calls is rude and disrespectful to those around you—not to mention incredibly unprofessional!
8) Benefits and Challenges
If you’re interested in becoming an orthodontist, you probably already know how rewarding it can be to help people feel more confident with a great smile. But before you sign up for classes at your local college or university, take a minute to consider some of the benefits and challenges of being in such a competitive field. The following are some questions that might help get you started: What is my salary range? How do I become board certified? Will I need insurance? Can I have a flexible schedule?
9) Am I too Old/Young to Become an Orthodontist?
If you can still remember what it was like to experience your teeth shifting and moving during puberty, then chances are orthodontics may be right for you. Not only will you enjoy a front-row seat to watching braces colors for boys and patients grow up, but you'll have time to accumulate all of those hours required by most states before becoming licensed as a professional orthodontist.
10) Is it Harder to Become a Doctor than a Dentist?
No. Although there is a bit of overlap between becoming a dentist and orthodontist, they’re actually quite different fields. If you want to become a dentist, you need to get at least four years of dental school under your belt—in addition to three years of undergraduate studies—before taking your state board exams. If you’re not sure what you want to do just yet, don’t worry!
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