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How do you become an orthodontist?
I am a freshman in high school, I want to be an orthodontist when I grow up, and I want to know the process.
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Andrew’s Answer
Thanks for the question! You have a long road ahead but good thing is you have a direction and goal and can start today.
High School (Freshman to Senior Year):
Focus on Your Studies: Take challenging courses, especially in math and science. Maintain a high GPA. This will set a strong foundation for your future studies. Extracurricular Activities: Join clubs or activities related to science, health, or leadership. This demonstrates your commitment and well-roundedness. Volunteer or Job Experience: Consider shadowing a dentist or orthodontist, or working in a dental office. This will give you a taste of the profession and show your dedication.
Important! College Preparations: Research and plan for your college education. Look into pre-dental programs or majors in biology or chemistry.
Undergraduate Studies (4 years):
Bachelor's Degree: Pursue a bachelor's degree in a science-related field. This could be biology, chemistry, or something similar. Maintain a high GPA and engage in extracurricular activities. Dental Admission Test (DAT): During your junior or senior year, start preparing for the DAT. This is a standardized test that dental schools use for admissions. Gain Experience: Continue to shadow dentists or orthodontists during your breaks or free time.
Dental School (4 years):
Dental School Admissions: Apply to dental schools. Keep in mind that competition can be fierce, so make sure your application stands out with strong grades, DAT scores, and letters of recommendation. Dental Curriculum: During dental school, you'll go through a rigorous program covering various aspects of dentistry. After dental school, you may choose to specialize in orthodontics. This typically involves a 2-3 year residency program.
It's a great career and you should think of sticking with it. Here are pros of Being an Orthodontist:
High Earning Potential: Orthodontists typically earn a high income.
Job Stability: There is a constant demand for orthodontic services.
Helping People: You'll be directly contributing to improving people's oral health and confidence.
Flexibility: You can choose to work in private practice, group practice, or even in academia.
Cons of Being an Orthodontist:
Lengthy Education: It requires a significant amount of time and dedication to become an orthodontist.
Student Debt: The cost of dental school can lead to substantial student loans.
Physically Demanding: The work can be physically demanding as you'll be working with your hands for extended periods.
Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest advancements in orthodontics through seminars, workshops, and conferences.
Communication Skills: Develop strong communication skills to effectively interact with patients and colleagues.
Empathy and Patience: These qualities are crucial when working with patients, especially during procedures that may cause discomfort.
Business Acumen (if you own a practice): Understand the business side of running an orthodontic practice.
Ethical Practice: Uphold high ethical standards in patient care and business practices
High School (Freshman to Senior Year):
Focus on Your Studies: Take challenging courses, especially in math and science. Maintain a high GPA. This will set a strong foundation for your future studies. Extracurricular Activities: Join clubs or activities related to science, health, or leadership. This demonstrates your commitment and well-roundedness. Volunteer or Job Experience: Consider shadowing a dentist or orthodontist, or working in a dental office. This will give you a taste of the profession and show your dedication.
Important! College Preparations: Research and plan for your college education. Look into pre-dental programs or majors in biology or chemistry.
Undergraduate Studies (4 years):
Bachelor's Degree: Pursue a bachelor's degree in a science-related field. This could be biology, chemistry, or something similar. Maintain a high GPA and engage in extracurricular activities. Dental Admission Test (DAT): During your junior or senior year, start preparing for the DAT. This is a standardized test that dental schools use for admissions. Gain Experience: Continue to shadow dentists or orthodontists during your breaks or free time.
Dental School (4 years):
Dental School Admissions: Apply to dental schools. Keep in mind that competition can be fierce, so make sure your application stands out with strong grades, DAT scores, and letters of recommendation. Dental Curriculum: During dental school, you'll go through a rigorous program covering various aspects of dentistry. After dental school, you may choose to specialize in orthodontics. This typically involves a 2-3 year residency program.
It's a great career and you should think of sticking with it. Here are pros of Being an Orthodontist:
High Earning Potential: Orthodontists typically earn a high income.
Job Stability: There is a constant demand for orthodontic services.
Helping People: You'll be directly contributing to improving people's oral health and confidence.
Flexibility: You can choose to work in private practice, group practice, or even in academia.
Cons of Being an Orthodontist:
Lengthy Education: It requires a significant amount of time and dedication to become an orthodontist.
Student Debt: The cost of dental school can lead to substantial student loans.
Physically Demanding: The work can be physically demanding as you'll be working with your hands for extended periods.
Andrew recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Talia’s Answer
Hi,
Find a local dentist office and offer to volunteer until you're old enough to transition to employee. This way you've got your foot in the door early, and they may want to hire you by the time you're old enough (or you'd actually have experience you can use to submit resumes to other places if you find you don't like this one long term.) One of my cousins is going to college right now to become an Orthodontist, and she said her hands-on experience at an office was the best thing she could have done, and helped her figure out how to focus and drive her study in the field.
Find a local dentist office and offer to volunteer until you're old enough to transition to employee. This way you've got your foot in the door early, and they may want to hire you by the time you're old enough (or you'd actually have experience you can use to submit resumes to other places if you find you don't like this one long term.) One of my cousins is going to college right now to become an Orthodontist, and she said her hands-on experience at an office was the best thing she could have done, and helped her figure out how to focus and drive her study in the field.
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Chinedu:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare to be an Orthodontist. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As an Orthodontist, communication is essential and critical when dealing with dental staff and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills.
To become an Orthodontist, a Bachelor Degree in biology, chemistry or another science related field has to be earned at a college or university. Afterwards, an advanced degree from an accredited dental school has to be obtained. The next phase will be training through an accredited Orthodontics residency as well as dental certification and licensing.
For education and training, it will take up to 11 years to become an Orthodontist. The Bachelor Degree will be between 4 years. Dental school will be another 4 years. Dental residency, certification and licensing can take up to 2-3 years.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become an Orthodontist:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college.
According to Universities.com, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Orthodontics:
- University of Rochester
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- Stony Brook University
- Texas A&M University (College Station)
- University of Illinois (Chicago)
- University of Washington (Seattle)
- Marquette University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Howard University
https://www.universities.com/programs/orthodontics-orthodontology-degrees
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
Scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. Scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
Best wishes for your education and career path as an Orthodontist!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare to be an Orthodontist. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As an Orthodontist, communication is essential and critical when dealing with dental staff and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills.
To become an Orthodontist, a Bachelor Degree in biology, chemistry or another science related field has to be earned at a college or university. Afterwards, an advanced degree from an accredited dental school has to be obtained. The next phase will be training through an accredited Orthodontics residency as well as dental certification and licensing.
For education and training, it will take up to 11 years to become an Orthodontist. The Bachelor Degree will be between 4 years. Dental school will be another 4 years. Dental residency, certification and licensing can take up to 2-3 years.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become an Orthodontist:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college.
According to Universities.com, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Orthodontics:
- University of Rochester
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- Stony Brook University
- Texas A&M University (College Station)
- University of Illinois (Chicago)
- University of Washington (Seattle)
- Marquette University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Howard University
https://www.universities.com/programs/orthodontics-orthodontology-degrees
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
Scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. Scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
Best wishes for your education and career path as an Orthodontist!