Why Choose an Orthodontic Specialist?

It takes many years to become an orthodontic specialist. Like medicine, the educational requirements are demanding and the admission to orthodontic post-graduate programs is extremely competitive and selective.

All Orthodontists are dentists, however only about 6 percent of dentists go on to a graduate program to receive their orthodontic specialty. First, upon completing college, the student must complete a three to four year graduate program at a school of dentistry in a university or other American Dental Association accredited institution. Finally, there are at least two to three years of advanced specialty education in an ADA-accredited orthodontic residency program. This complex program requires advanced knowledge in biomedical, behavioral and basic sciences. The orthodontic student then learns the skills to necessary to manage tooth movement (orthodontics) and also to guide facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). Only dentists who completed this complex specialty program may call themselves orthodontists.