Becoming an orthodontist is no easy feat. It requires a lot of dedication and hard work, starting with completing your undergraduate studies and then earning a doctorate from a four-year dental school. After that, you must complete a three-year residency program and obtain a state license to practice orthodontic medicine. Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in straightening teeth.
They use devices such as braces to apply pressure to the teeth and slowly readjust their positions on the gums. It takes several years to become an orthodontist, usually 2 to 4 years in an undergraduate program, four years in dental school, and 2 to 3 years in a graduate orthodontic program. Orthodontics is a dental specialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and correction of poorly positioned teeth and jaws. To become an orthodontist, you must first complete college, dental school, and orthodontic school. After that, you must complete a residency program for two or three years. Certification is voluntary, and orthodontists generally obtain it approximately halfway through their residency training. An orthodontist can effectively treat conditions such as teeth that are too crowded or too far apart, teeth that stick out and are misaligned, and jaws that don't match.
Working in a clinical setting can offer aspiring orthodontists a closer view of the daily activities of this profession and improve their applications for dental school. In addition to these functions, the orthodontist will also adjust dental appliances, analyze patient data to align them with the patient's treatment goals, and diagnose other dental conditions. To become an orthodontist, you must obtain a doctorate from a dental school program accredited by the Dental Accreditation Commission. When attending Dental School, aspiring orthodontists choose between dental surgery and dental medicine, resulting in a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Before you can be admitted to a dental program and train as an orthodontist, you must complete the pre-dental requirements as a university student. Orthodontists must obtain a dental license to practice orthodontic medicine in their state. As an orthodontist, your income will vary depending on the years of experience you have, your geographical place of work, and your employer.
General oral health staff are known as dentists, while a doctor who specializes in oral problems is called an orthodontist.