Education

Orthodontist Education in 2020

Before discussing the education that is needed to become an orthodontist it is important to know what they are, what jobs they perform, where they will be working, and their schedule to make sure that this is a career you want to pursue.

What is an orthodontist?

In this medical profession it is a dentist that specialize in the field of orthodontics and major in the prevention and correction of irregularities in your teeth. This field use to be called orthodontia which is derived from two Greek word orthos and dontos which means straight teeth. When you become an orthodontist it means that your main job focus will be to provide your patients of all ages with a beautiful healthy smile.

Orthodontist job description

The basic job description of an orthodontist is for them to realign and strengthen the jaw and teeth with the application of orthodontic retainers and braces. An orthodontist will provide treatment to patients who have oral cavity anomalies and dental malocclusions. They may also be involved in a public health education program showing people how to take care of their teeth.

Some of the many job duties that an orthodontist may perform can include:

  • Analyzing x-rays and dental photos of their patients and then developing the right treatment plan.
  • Examining the dental and medical histories of their patients.
  • Diagnosing any teeth and jaw abnormalities
  • Fit and adjust as needed the dental devices that their patients are wearing
  • Designing and constructing dental devices such as labial and lingual arch wires and retainers and space maintainers.
  • Teaching their patients on the correct teeth-cleaning methods
  • Promoting oral hygiene
  • Helping to organize public health programs to help educate people on what not to eat and what to eat to help keep their teeth healthy

An orthodontist will also help a patient who has protruding teeth, shifting jaws, chewing problems, facial asymmetry, etc. They also work with other dental specialists like a dental surgeon to help devise an alternative way of treating their patients. Being an orthodontist you will need to be familiar with the different instruments that an orthodontist would use like drills, braces, mouth mirrors, and x-ray machines. More

Orthodontist Education and Schools

Before you can become an orthodontist you will first need to complete your education to become a dentist. The reason is that an orthodontist is a medical professional that specializes in dealing with patients who have teeth that are out-of-sync or crooked with the help of dental prosthetics like braces. When choosing orthodontics to specialize in you will primarily dealing with the aesthetic part of dentistry.

If you want to become a dentist specializing in orthodontics you should make sure that you are taking as many science and math classes while you are in high school to give you a head start on college and earning your bachelor’s degree. One important thing to note is that when you decide that you want to become an orthodontist it is a specialty that will require extensive training. The reason is that this specialty deals with improving the facial appearance of your patients.

Dental school

The first step after graduating from high school is to have at least 2 years of an undergraduate education in science or have your Bachelor’s Degree in Science (BSc). Either of these is needed before you can even enroll in dental school. You must also pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT), which is a hard test to pass so you must study hard in order to pass, before enrolling in dental school. Most students will take this exam during their junior year of college.

There are 56 dental schools that have been accredited by the American Dental Association. Some states have only one or two dental schools, some have several dental schools, and some states have no dental schools. There is a lot of tough competition to get into any of these dental schools. To be able to get into a dental school you will have to go through personal interviews along with being judged on your DAT scores.

Some of dental schools are:

  • University of Alabama School of Dentistry Birmingham, Alabama
  • University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry Los Angles, California
  • Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine Pomona, California
  • University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Farmington, Connecticut
  • University of Florida College of Dentistry Gainesville, Florida
  • Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine Alton, Illinois
  • Indiana University School of Dentistry Indianapolis, Indiana
  • University of Michigan School of Dentistry Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry San Juan, Puerto Rico

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