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Orthodontist Education Requirements: A Step By Step Guide

Orthodontist SalaryOrthodontics is a specialty branch of dentistry that is concerned with correcting facial misalignment and crooked dentition. Since dentistry is a graduate-level course, the specialization of orthodontics is a postgraduate course that has stringent orthodontist education requirements. Taking a total of up to 11 years of post-secondary schooling, orthodontist training is not for the faint of heart, although successfully finishing the program and licensing can prove to be financially rewarding.

Step 1: Acquire a High School Diploma or its Equivalent

The first step in fulfilling orthodontist education requirements involves completing regular secondary schooling. Since both the general dentistry and specialty orthodontic program are medical programs, it is best to opt for high school electives with a science emphasis or to take optional advanced science courses. Doing so would provide a good head start for the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs that would follow the secondary program.

Step 2: Complete a Science Undergraduate Degree.

Although there is no specific course requirement for taking dentistry, it is better to choose a bachelor’s in science degree with an emphasis in health sciences. Typical dentistry programs require a minimum number of units taken in the fields of general and organic chemistry, general biology, physics, calculus and statistics. Consequently, it will be better to ensure that these requirements are adequately met while undergoing the undergraduate program. Not doing so might delay the admission process since taking these pre-requisites would require additional time.

Step 3: Complete an Accredited Dentistry Program

Next on the list of orthodontist education requirements is completing a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) graduate program in an accredited school. Aside from a bachelor’s degree and the science and math prerequisites, applicants must pass the standardized Dental Admission Test (DAT) and undergo an admissions interview.

The program typically takes four years to complete and is similar to a medical school program in that the last two years are allotted to practical clinical training to apply the theoretical knowledge learned during the first two years of the program. Although dentistry does prepare students to treat dental diseases, equal emphasis is placed on the prevention of the same through educating patients. Successful graduates are required to pass state or regional licensing exams to practice.

Step 4: The Orthodontics Specialty Program

The specialty orthodontic program takes and additional three years combining theory, practice, and research. The training program is designed to prepare students to recognize and diagnose dentition-related facial deformity and design and implement a treatment plan to correct the problem.

Step 5: Board Certification and Licensing

Graduates of an accredited orthodontic program are qualified to take the certification exam administered by the American Board of Orthodontics. After passing the written exam, candidates present clinical cases for evaluation as the practical component of the licensing process. Those who successfully complete the process are awarded a time-limited certification status that requires periodic re-examination and continuing professional education.

This long list of steps represents stringent orthodontist education requirements. The whole process is not just long and intensive, but also expensive. Despite this, successful orthodontists can look forward to a lucrative career that is flexible enough to be done on their own time, typically without a boss to answer to.

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