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How to Become an Orthodontist in California

Your mind is made up and you want to become an orthodontist and help patients straighten their teeth. Whether functional or cosmetic, the profession always needs good orthodontists. The overall time for this education is about ten or eleven years. If you have not started college yet for your undergraduate program, you should plan to take the requirements needed before you can apply to dental school. Your undergraduate term is four years. Then, you will spend four years in dental school, and on to post-graduate education for two years in an orthodontics program.

Orthodontists straighten teeth, correct overbite problems and provide treatment with braces and retainers.  It is considered a specialized area and there is a requirement for additional training after dental school.

Orthodontist SalaryYour requirements for undergrad school will be the sciences. Chemistry, biology, physics and other science subjects are the pre-dental requirements. You must obtain your Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. There are plenty of schools that offer the coursework for the requirements you will need. Your next move after graduating from a college or university will be to start your dental school training.

It is suggested that you apply to several dental schools. Also, you will need letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors. You need to take a Dental Admissions Test (DAT) before you are admitted. These test scores will be needed for admission to a dental school. The first two years provide the more in-depth study of the sciences and includes biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and microbiology in the first couple years. After that, you will be exposed to the different specialties. These include orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics and maxillofacial surgery.

Start at this point to prepare to get your license in California, before you even finish dental school. You will need to pass part one and two of the American Dental Association’s National Board Dental Exam. Also, the deadline to start dental school in the fall is January or February of that same year. These are all very important elements to becoming an orthodontist in California.

After graduation, you go on to postgraduate school in which you will apply to the specialty in which are interested, orthodontics. Loma Linda University has a 3-year program for your Masters of Science in Orthodontics. This is certainly not your only option. Your graduation at this point includes getting your board certification. This is done through the American Board of Orthodontics. The certification is voluntary for those who pass the written and clinical exam. The end result here is your license to practice.

California is a huge state and there are options for your educational choices here. You can choose public, private or even go online for your undergraduate study. However, your clinical experience must be hands on. California has six actual dental schools. They are Loma Linda University; University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry; University of California at San Francisco; University of the Pacific Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco; University of Southern California the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Los Angeles; and Western University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine, Pomona.

These schools also have postgraduate programs for the two to three year specialty studies you will need after your dental school training.

Salaries for Orthodontists in California

When taking into consideration the salaries for orthodontists here, it is important to note that there are variations based on population, competitiveness and other factors. The median salary in Los Angeles is $137,000; however, you can make up to $192,000. Keep in mind the variations. Listed below are several cities in California to give you a comparison:

Los Angeles – $137,000

San Diego – $132,000

Beverly Hills – 137,000

San Francisco – $150,000

San Jose – $150,000

Bakersfield – $132,000

Oakland – $142,000

Sacramento – $133,000

As you can see, within the eight cities shown here, there are variations in the salaries up to $13,000. And, while these are median salaries, please note that the salaries could be a little less. The important thing to remember is to do some research regarding where you would like to practice.

Once you become an orthodontist, you will need to renew your license every two years. It will be necessary to take 50 hours of continuing education to renew your license. Continuing education is a part of your life as an orthodontist. The continuing education keeps you abreast of new challenges and treatments. While is not necessary to go to school in California to practice there, you will need to pass the exam to practice in that state.

Considerations for you once you have your license is whether you want to practice with another dentist or open your own practice. You can, of course, practice with another dental office before you begin your own practice. California is considered one of the top states for orthodontists.

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