How to Become an Orthodontist: Education, Skills, Programs & More

Written by: Laura Edwards, DDS and Diamond Braces Orthodontist

Date: January 24, 2022

All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists.

In fact, orthodontists receive specialized training that makes them uniquely suited to the art of straightening teeth. To become an orthodontist requires 2-3 more years of education before acquiring a certification in orthodontic care. Once licensed and certified, orthodontists treat a wide variety of dental alignment issues, also known as “malocclusions”.

They use precise clinical methods to safely and effectively align teeth and create healthier dental structures for patients of all ages. If you had orthodontic treatment at some point in your life, you likely saw the impressive results achieved by these expert professionals. While the path to becoming an orthodontist is challenging, competitive, and expensive, orthodontists enjoy high salaries, great work-life balance, and a friendly, sociable teamwork environment.

Read on to find out how to join the ranks of an important medical field.

Orthodontic Education & Training Requirements

Complete Dental School and Become a Licensed Dentist

To become an orthodontist, you must first complete dental school to achieve a doctorate in dentistry and become a certified dentist. Admission to a dental school requires completion of a bachelor’s degree (although some universities offer a combined degree program) and a passing grade on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

Dental schools are competitive and very demanding, much like medical schools. They’re also pricey: the average dental school degree costs $150,000-$300,000, depending on the program. Luckily, dentist and orthodontist salaries are high (according to U.S. News, dentists made a median salary of $151,850 in 2018, while an orthodontist’s median salary in 2018 was $208,000), so most dental professionals find that the cost of school pays off eventually.

There are two types of doctorates, a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). The difference depends on your program, but both certifications allow you to practice dentistry.

Most dental schools are 4-year programs. The first two years will generally be classroom learning, taking subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, radiology, and oral pathology. The next two years will be clinical training, where students study under a trained dentist to learn how to treat patients.

Orthodontic Residency

Aspiring orthodontists apply to an orthodontic residency in their final year of dental school; after completing your DDS or DMD, you’ll be a certified dentist and ready to begin an orthodontic residency.

Dentists not going on to specialized training will take and pass the National Board Dental Examination, and also complete their licensure requirements in their state, upon which they can begin practicing. Dentists can still perform orthodontic treatment, but they lack specialized training in the field; for that reason, most dental professionals practicing today are registered orthodontists who completed a residency. Only those dentists can call themselves orthodontists.

For those interested in practicing orthodontics full-time, an orthodontic residency is a next step towards becoming a licensed orthodontist. An orthodontic residency is completed at a teaching hospital, often attached to a university.

How to Get Into an Orthodontic Residency Program

Getting accepted to an orthodontic residency is competitive: according to the American Association of Orthodontists, there is 1 residency spot open for every 15 applicants. Graduating in the top percentage of your dental school class is the best way to win a spot in an orthodontic residency. Some aspiring orthodontists may apply several times before getting accepted to a program.

Most residency programs require applicants to have already passed the National Board Dental Examination, which is the national licensing exam that allows dentists to practice. Because this exam is taken during dental school, you won’t have to take time between dental school and your orthodontic residency, unless you failed the exam and need to retake it before applying to schools.

You can find a list of CODA-accredited orthodontic residencies on the American Association of Orthodontist’s database. This list contains programs in the U.S. and Canada: nearly all states accept Canadian orthodontic training, but those with orthodontic training from other countries will likely have to complete their education again in the U.S. before practicing dentistry or orthodontics in America.

The residency program is 3-5 years, depending on the institution. In the residency, orthodontists receive intensive instruction in the art and science of orthodontia: they learn how to safely and effectively move teeth (orthodontics), and the proper guidance of dental, jaw, and facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). By the end of a residency program, orthodontists will have participated in hundreds of orthodontic treatments, giving them a comprehensive knowledge of this specialty.

Some orthodontic residencies pay their residents, while others require payment. If there is pay, it is generally in the form of a stipend, which is a relatively small annual fund to cover some basic living costs and/or travel to conferences. Hospital residencies are more likely to pay a stipend than university residencies.

Top Orthodontic Residency Programs

According to the Commission on Dental Accreditation, there are currently 68 orthodontic residency programs in the U.S. Below are some of the top programs in the country, ranked for the quality of training, post-residency placements, research, and more.

University of Michigan. The orthodontics program at University of Michigan is the oldest in the country. It incorporates a wide array of clinical trainings, producing expertly-trained, comprehensive orthodontists.
University of North Carolina. This competitive program is attached the University of North Carolina’s top-ranked dental school in Chapel Hill.
University of Maryland. This university boasts the country’s first dental school, and its award-winning orthodontic program produces some of the country’s finest orthodontists.
Maimonides Medical Center: This large teaching hospital is located in Brooklyn, New York. This program is competitive, for its ideal location and its unusually generous stipend: first-year residents make more than $51,000.
Montefiore Medical Center: This program is located in the Bronx, New York, and offers top-of-the-line instruction and a $60,000 stipend throughout the residency.

Getting Licensed to Practice Orthodontics

After you have successfully completed an orthodontic residency, you’ll be ready to start practicing orthodontics. To do so, you must have passed the national dental board exam, as well as the state licensing requirements in the state where you intend to practice. The licensing requirements for orthodontists are the same as for dentists.

Orthodontists can also choose to become board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), but in the U.S. board certification isn’t necessary to practice (it is required in Canada). The orthodontic board certification consists of written and clinical examinations. You can learn more about getting board certified on the website of the American Board of Orthodontics.

Most orthodontists have already taken the National Board Dental Examination before beginning their residency: all practicing medical professionals must periodically recertify and complete continuing education courses throughout their careers.

State licensing requirements vary, but nearly all states require passage of a “jurisprudence exam”, which tests your knowledge of that state’s dental laws. There may be other clinical exams or licensing requirements: you can find your state’s dental licensing requirements on the American Dental Association’s state-by-state licensure database.

Staying Licensed

Like all medical professionals, orthodontists are required to keep their licensure up to date with continuing education and regular recertification.

In the majority of states, orthodontists and dentists must complete 40 hours of professional education a year. This ensures dental professionals are caught up on the latest research and clinical developments in their respective fields, to provide the highest-quality, up-to-date treatment for their patients. State re-licensing varies: consult your state’s dental board for more information on how to stay up-to-date with your dental license.

What to Do After Graduating an Orthodontic Residency

Once you’ve completed your training and licensure as an orthodontist, it’s time to look for a job.

There are a variety of resources to help you find work as an orthodontist:

Professional association job boards. The American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists both host job boards where practices and medical facilities can share hiring notices. Joining a professional association is also an excellent networking opportunity, and a way to connect with your colleagues across the country. Both the ADA and the AAO sponsor conferences each year, where dentists and orthodontists can connect and learn about the newest developments in dental medicine.
Online job sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and CareerBuilder. These online sites are national clearinghouses for jobs in countless fields, and more and more companies and medical practices rely on them for staffing great employees. You can filter for preferences like full-time or part-time, distance from your home, and minimum salary, in order to find the right position for you.
Your school or program’s job resources. Orthodontic residency programs, like all higher education institutions, are invested in helping their students find jobs after graduating: program ratings are closely tied to the employment rates of their alumni. For that reason, most CODA-accredited orthodontic residencies have resources to help their students find jobs. There may be an online job board, an email listserve, or dedicated career counselors that can help connect you to opportunities. Ask your professors or school administrators for help applying to jobs post-residency.

More About Careers

New Orthodontic Residency Graduates

you’re a brand-new orthodontist who recently graduated or is about to graduate. You’ve put in the work, passed all the tests, and threw your cap into the sky to finally call yourself an orthodontist. But you’re left with a question that haunts every new graduate – now what? It can be daunting for new orthodontists to try and navigate the confusing landscape of being a standalone professional running their own business, which is why many graduates opt to join group practices.

Dental Office Manager

Orthodontic office managers are responsible for a wide array of tasks in their day-to-day operations. Like office managers in any industry, orthodontic office managers play a pivotal role in many different aspects of an office – but they also have unique duties related to the field of orthodontics.

Orthodontist

All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. In fact, orthodontists receive specialized training that makes them uniquely suited to the art of straightening teeth. To become an orthodontist requires 2-3 more years of education before acquiring a certification in orthodontic care.

Dental Assistant Career

Dental assistants are responsible for a variety of tasks in the dental or dental specialist’s office. The job responsibilities vary depending on the office, the certification requirements of the state, and the training and certification level of the individual assistant.

Dental Assistant Interviews

Landed an interview for your dream dental assistant job? Congrats! Now the question is – how do you ace the interview? Luckily, we’ve got answers. This article will teach you everything to expect at an interview for a dental assistant job, and how to answer every question like a pro.

Dental Hygienist Career

Dental hygienists serve a critically important role in the dental office or dental specialist office. Registered dental hygienists support dentists and specialists in a wide variety of daily procedures and patient care, and collaborate with the rest of the dental team to provide excellent care to their patients.

Dental Hygienist Interviews

Looking to stand out at your dental hygienist interview? These tips can help! In the guide below you’ll get specific advice on interviewing for a dental hygienist job – plus, you’ll find example answers and advice for common questions you’re likely to be asked during your interview.

Dental Office Manager Interviews

Being a dental office manager is hard work: you’re usually the person responsible for solving nearly every problem that happens throughout the day. For that reason, dental practice owners take their time when selecting the right office manager. They want to be sure that the person they hire will be able to take on the many responsibilities required of a manager of a busy practice.

Dentist Career

Interested in a career as a dentist? Great choice! The road to becoming a dentist is a long one, with a great deal of competitive training and expensive education. However, if you make it through dental school, being a dentist is a very enjoyable career: dentists enjoy high salaries, great work-life balance, and a flexible, rewarding job environment.

Dentist Interviews

You’ve made it through dental school, you passed your board exams – now, it’s time to get a job! Acing a job interview definitely isn’t the hardest part of becoming a dentist, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare.

Dental Treatment Coordinator

Treatment coordinators are an important part of the orthodontic or dental care team. They perform a wide variety of roles to support patients and their families through the dental treatment experience and manage communication and cooperation between patients, doctors, and support staff.

Orthodontic Assistant

Orthodontic assistants, like dental assistants, support the orthodontic team in a variety of tasks. They work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with a hard-working team of other dental professionals. If you’re quick on your feet, enjoy a social environment, and like working on a team, then a career in orthodontic assistant may be the right job for you!

Orthodontic Assistant Interviews

Once you’ve completed your dental assistant program and decided on a career in orthodontics, it’s time to start looking for a job! This guide can help you prepare for an interview in the orthodontic assistant industry, whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional.

Orthodontist Career

Becoming an orthodontist takes a great deal of time, money, and effort – but orthodontists consistently rate their career choice highly.

Orthodontist Interviews

It’s important to be prepared before any interview, to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward. As Forbes notes, ahead-of-time research can make the difference between getting you the job and leaving you in the discard pile.