The benefits of orthodontics residency

[011110]

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There are definitely the negatives of doing orthodontics residency on this board. I thought maybe we could start a positivity thread for those of us who have gotten/will apply to residency and also practicing orthodontists. What are some of the benefits of becoming an orthodontist vs a GP in 2026?

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

🦗 🦗 🦗

 

[Undecided__]

I have NOT met any practicing orthodontist or orthodontic resident who REGRETS going into ortho. In fact, many of them said they don't get on Student Doctor Network. I wouldn't be discourage over what is said on SDN from a few people or from people who are not orthodontists.

 

[011110]

There was an AAO opinion article a few years. I’m going to butcher this, but it was an anecdote about a new ortho who had practiced as a GP for while before residency. They were freaking out over little things, and the ortho faculty said “I want you to remember that your worst day as an ortho will always be better than your best day as a GP.” That always stuck with me.

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

There was an AAO opinion article a few years. I’m going to butcher this, but it was an anecdote about a new ortho who had practiced as a GP for while before residency. They were freaking out over little things, and the ortho faculty said “I want you to remember that your worst day as an ortho will always be better than your best day as a GP.” That always stuck with me.

What does that even mean though? I have some pretty great days as a GP.

 

[011110]

I was able to dig up the article. TLDR just read the last paragraph

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

I was able to dig up the article. TLDR just read the last paragraph

Thanks for sharing! I would just love to hear what concretely makes even the worst day as an orthodontist better than the best day as a GP. Is that an actual fact or are we just stating it as if it is fact. My very close ortho friend was just texting me today complaining about seeing 87 patients in a day and having to deal with two disgruntled parents. I haven’t had a day that bad yet (knock on wood)

 

[FeralisExtremum]

What are some of the benefits of becoming an orthodontist vs a GP in 2026?

Upsides I can think of over GP:

• Less dental anxiety you have to deal with from patients
• Less hostility in general - even if your patients aren't enthusiastic about having braces, they're generally neutral about it at worst. Patients usually want to be in treatment (or at least recognize the benefits, eventually) over restorative work. (this does not extend to the parents who can be very difficult to deal with)
• Less physically demanding (unless you're at a high volume practice)
• Mistakes are usually reversible, so a lot less stressful on the treatment side
• Emergencies are typically quicker and easier to deal with

 

[gryffindor]

No more second molar endo, crowns, fillings.

No more mandibular blocks.

Generally healthy patients.

 

[011110]

- Lower overall liability
- Less likelihood of board complaint than a GP doing ortho
- Change lives
- Ability to lengthen career due to less physicality

 

[Lemillion]

I agree with above members' postings

1. Lower stress (most patients are chill)
2. Not a lot of local anesthetic delivery
3. True emergencies are primarily non-existent and can wait until Monday vibe (broken bracket or pokey wire at the top of the list)
4. Patients "want" ortho treatment and excited for progress.
5. Most stable orthos I meet work 3 days a week and travel a ton. Anecdotally, but seems way more flexible vs my peds counterparts
6. Patients are generally pretty healthy and not a lot of contraindications for treatment. Especially if you're in a pedi heavy orthodontic practice

Of course there are downsides or complaints orthos will mention but the focus is on positivity!

 

[Life of Pablo]

I’m not biased - best field is OMS. Better than both. Do OMS.

 

[OncePreDent]

I’m not biased - best field is OMS. Better than both. Do OMS.

highest income for sure

 

[2TH MVR]

Agree with all the positives mentioned above. I would add that orthodontists are delivering tx results that patients can readily SEE and WANT. As compared to certain areas in general dentistry where pathology exists, but there is no PAIN or VISUAL confirmation of the pathology.

The other positive is that there will always be CROOKED teeth.

 

[yappy]

I’m not biased - best field is OMS. Better than both. Do OMS.

Im sure you're joking but If the professional interests of ortho and OMS hopefuls were mapped onto a venn diagram they would barely overlap. Look at most of the “pros” people are reporting for ortho; basically no cutting, no emergencies, no infliction of pain. I don’t know many OMS who would be interested in a career like that. The best specialty is the one that you’re interested in.

 

[gryffindor]

Im sure you're joking but If the professional interests of ortho and OMS hopefuls were mapped onto a venn diagram they would barely overlap. Look at most of the “pros” people are reporting for ortho; basically no cutting, no emergencies, no infliction of pain. I don’t know many OMS who would be interested in a career like that. The best specialty is the one that you’re interested in.

The OP asked why ortho over GP. Why OMS over ortho is a different discussion. I’d say the short relationships with patients is a plus. You can be busy with a narrow scope that interests you. Better renumeration. And finally, limited residency positions. Ortho was a good gig until the number of spots blew up. I’ve just started seeing the increased graduates pushing into an already crowded market in the past few years without seeing an equivalent number of retirements to balance. It’s not going to get better.

 

[OncePreDent]

The OP asked why ortho over GP. Why OMS over ortho is a different discussion. I’d say the short relationships with patients is a plus. You can be busy with a narrow scope that interests you. Better remuneration. And finally, limited residency positions. Ortho was a good gig until the number of spots blew up. I’ve just started seeing the increased graduates pushing into an already crowded market in the past few years without seeing an equivalent number of retirements to balance. It’s not going to get better.

True true. Do you ever think the income would be less in ortho than GD because of this? Like, just more difficult to find a full-time job/full-time work compared to GD and will only get worse from here?

 

[gryffindor]

True true. Do you ever think the income would be less in ortho than GD because of this? Like, just more difficult to find a full-time job/full-time work compared to GD and will only get worse from here?

I don't know. There are way too many GPs graduating as well. Twenty years ago there were less than 4000 graduating each year. Now I read it's 7000 graduating? The US population did not increase by the same proportion during that time.

 

[OncePreDent]

I don't know. There are way too many GPs graduating as well. Twenty years ago there were less than 4000 graduating each year. Now I read it's 7000 graduating? The US population did not increase by the same proportion during that time.

Ah to just be graduating dental school... Should have started 25 years ago lol

 

[TanMan]

Downsides of ortho:

More competition, competing for referrals, having to see the patient a bunch of times, poorly compliant patients and crazy expectations.

For the "cons of gp":
- If all else fails, I can pull the tooth out, for ortho, I can imagine messing up the bite, crazy midline shifts and/or being blamed for TMJ is not an easy "fix".
- Numbing is great, prevents flinching and moving because they don't feel anything. Anxiety? Preop valium or refer.
- Technology and advances in material science make procedures much easier. 1 second curing lights, fast polymerization resins, same day crowns, reciprocating handpieces with activated irrigation, CBCT for single tooth implants, and so on....

 

[JacquesVallee]

Now I read it's 7000 graduating?

Half of whom graduate from The Georgia School of Orthodontics.

 

[gryffindor]

Half of whom graduate from The Georgia School of Orthodontics.

7000 refers to the number of GPs graduating each year.

Twenty years ago, ortho used to be around 250 spots available each year. Now I think it is 350. When I started about 15 years ago, Invisalign was picking up steam and going after GPs hard. Pedo had not totally captured in-house ortho yet.

 

[Bentley242]

7000 refers to the number of GPs graduating each year.

Twenty years ago, ortho used to be around 250 spots available each year. Now I think it is 350. When I started about 15 years ago, Invisalign was picking up steam and going after GPs hard. Pedo had not totally captured in-house ortho yet.

These aren't things I was considering before starting the ortho journey... Makes me reconsider my position.