A Career in Orthodontics

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The work of an Orthodontist is commonly evident in the display of picturesque, straight white teeth.Filling cavities, checking the health of your gums and professionally cleaning teeth are all things that your regular dentist attends to, but, sometimes more care is required. Employing the use of headgear, braces or other specialized mouth pieces, Orthodontists treat abnormalities and misaligned jaws and teeth working to achieve balance of the facial structure. To attain the ranks of an Orthodontist there is a process involving a few major steps combined with a strong interest in providing oral care for patients.

 

The first step to become an Orthodontist is to obtain a 4-year Baccalaureate degree through a university of your choosing.Ideally, this degree should be in nursing or in pre-medicine studies as both contain courses that will be relevant and accepted for dental programs in the next step of the academic journey.

It is critical to do the research on the Dental school you wish to attend before you choose your area of focus for your Bachelor's degree. The recommended courses to incorporate in your degree program are: Psychology, Biology, Physics, English and other languages.

 

Depending on the program you are looking to enter after your Bachelor's degree, community service or volunteer hours are also a good thing to include during your educational career as these will set your application apart from others. Finally, pick supplementary courses in order to boost your GPA during your degree program.

 

After you have completed your 4-year degree, you will have to complete the Dental Aptitude Test or DAT. The DAT is test similar to that of the MCAT, designed to measure your dental knowledge and aptitude for dentistry.

This test serves as an entrance requirement for Dental Schools.. Be sure to research schools before applying as each school will have specific admissions requirements and deadlines to adhere to in order to achieve acceptance. Previous DAT exams and practice tests may be accessible for you to reference at your local or university library. This will help give you added confidence when studying and taking the actual test. Bookstores are another good place to check for DAT exams. Often you can buy these examinations. To help you study for this important exam, flashcards are another good learning resource for you to use.

 

The next phase in Orthondontic study is the completion of Dental School, after 4 years. Upon completion, you will be awarded your Doctorate in Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine allowing you to build on this in a niche program such as Orthodontics.

 

For certain programs a separate Masters degree in an area of specialty is required to move onto Orthodontics. In order to move onto the specialty of Orthodontics, some Dental schools require you to attain a separate Masters degree in a designated area. The actual Orthondontic Specialty program will vary from school to school containing research and teaching components together with a residency program in surgery to successfully graduate. In order to practice as an Orthodontist, right after the completion of the specialty program you will need to take a certification test. As each state and province has different governing guidelines, the process of becoming licensed to practice may vary. Be sure to investigate the process beforehand to help you determine where you want to start working.

 

While the process to becoming a successful Orthodontist may seem tremendous and daunting, if you possess the dedication and passion for the industry and work at setting short-term goals, you will be able to achieve your dream. The combination of commitment and hard work will be vital along with proper planning as you select your courseload and extra-curricular activities during your university tenure. Considering all the costs involved is also important as financial commitment is necessary to achieve this goal. Academic advisors will help you make an informed decision as will practicing Orthodontists who may be able to address any challenges or questions you may have regarding the profession and the process to join the prestigious Orthodontic community.

Source: http://business-career-advice-article.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-career-in-orthodontics.html

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