Elighten Me Please...

[Undecided22]

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I've been seriously considering orthodontics as a career. I've started shadowing a local orthodontist and I think I'd like the job. Reason being its a lot of hands on work, and I really like that, something I wouldn't get in medicine unless I was a surgeon.

I've searched around and have seen that to become an orthodontist you need to go to a dental school, then rock dental school(get amazing grades, LORs, etc) to get a residency slot for orthodontics, which in the end is a total of 7 years?(4 dental+3 ortho) Is this right?
And most residency slots are very limited like ~3-7 people/year?

Is it possible to get into though? I'm an average undergraduate, but if I put in the time, is it a realistic goal to reach? I wouldn't mind being a GD, but honestly, ortho attracts me the most.


Thanks.

 

[Glimmer1991]

My straight-up answer: Unless you are an "average" undergrad because you don't put in the effort and have a lot of untapped talent, I don't know that specializing is a realistic goal. You have to be at the very top of your class and you'll be surrounded by very intelligent peers. I "rock" my undergrad and the DAT and don't even think that specializing is an attainable goal for me. If it happens; it happens. If not, okay. Overall, going into dental school with the sole goal of becoming an orthodontist may set you up for failure and disappointment. It's a lofty goal for anyone! 🙂 You should totally go for it if that's where your heart is set, but have realistic views of what you're up against.

 

[Glimmer1991]

Also, the thing you say you really like--hands on work--is exactly what you do as a general practitioner. I'd say that GPs use their hands just as much, if not more, than orthos do. You also get to do surgeries every day.

 

[518590]

If there is will, there is a way. what my dad always told me 😀

 

[IsaacYankem]

Is it possible to get into though? I'm an average undergraduate, but if I put in the time, is it a realistic goal to reach? I wouldn't mind being a GD, but honestly, ortho attracts me the most.


Thanks.

Yes it is possible. Anything is possible, and you will need to dedicate yourself 100%. Shoot for orthodontics and be content if you end up being a GP.

 

[predent12]

Of course it is possible, if you work your tail off and are willing to go wherever you can find a residency.

But someone already great advice, and that is you shouldn't shoot for it unless you think you'd be okay as a general dentist. The last thing you want to do is go through four years of school, NOT get an ortho residency, and then your only viable career is something you can't see yourself doing.

Also, keep in mind that if you don't get into ortho right out of dental school, it doesn't mean the door is forever closed to you. You could do a GP residency and then reapply.

P.S. One more thing. Some general dentists do some basic orthodontics. (They do some extra training and are able to do some ortho work.) Something to consider, if an Ortho residency doesn't work out. (And also a reason that I am interested in being a general dentist- so many options!)

 

[tommyinVA]

I've been seriously considering orthodontics as a career. I've started shadowing a local orthodontist and I think I'd like the job. Reason being its a lot of hands on work, and I really like that, something I wouldn't get in medicine unless I was a surgeon.

Also, the thing you say you really like--hands on work--is exactly what you do as a general practitioner. I'd say that GPs use their hands just as much, if not more, than orthos do. You also get to do surgeries every day.

You know who else does a lot of "hands-on" work? My mechanic. And the lady that cuts my hair. Oh, cable guys too. They do a lot of hands-on work....

The others are right, it's certainly possible. But Glimmer is more right: unless you are ridiculously smart and just don't apply yourself you probably shouldn't be thinking about specializing. Even if you ARE ridiculously smart, if you're that lazy that you only get "average" grades then I still think you'll have a difficult time committing yourself to the amount of study time you'll need if you hope to specialize.

Why were you shadowing an orthodontist anyways? Were you just watching a younger sibling get braces and thinking "Hey, I could do this" or have you actually decided to pursue dentistry as a career? There's a big difference between the 2...

 

[Undecided22]

You know who else does a lot of "hands-on" work? My mechanic. And the lady that cuts my hair. Oh, cable guys too. They do a lot of hands-on work....

The others are right, it's certainly possible. But Glimmer is more right: unless you are ridiculously smart and just don't apply yourself you probably shouldn't be thinking about specializing. Even if you ARE ridiculously smart, if you're that lazy that you only get "average" grades then I still think you'll have a difficult time committing yourself to the amount of study time you'll need if you hope to specialize.

Why were you shadowing an orthodontist anyways? Were you just watching a younger sibling get braces and thinking "Hey, I could do this" or have you actually decided to pursue dentistry as a career? There's a big difference between the 2...

I shadowed in order to see if I wanted to pursue dentistry. I'm still undecided and of course naive that's why I'm here asking questions.

 

[dans105]

One of my first shadowing gigs was an orthodontist too, and I really enjoyed it. Since then I've shadowed GPs, a couple pediatric dentists, and an endodontist, and I see positives in all of them. My advice is to observe some GPs and other specialists and make sure they appeal to you too before deciding on pursuing dentistry. There are my "e-lightening" words.

 

[Undecided22]

^ haha yeah, I realized the typo but got to lazy to fix it.

Is a GP able to do a lot of the things that other specialists do? i.e. root canals, ortho work, etc?

 

[Wax n Relax]

I usually don't cruise the pre-dental forum, but every now and then I need a laugh. I love that everyone wants to be an orthodontist. I mean why not. You have a baller office, assistants do everything, and you just sit back and sort your stacks of benji's like Floyd mayweather. Orthodontists don't use their hands. Ya they bend some wire every now and then, but not like any other specialty or general dentist. Orthodontist are mouth engineers and designers. Also, ortho require top scores and top class rank. Unfortunately you can be a robot and get into ortho. No social skills required....maybe an exaggeration but numbers and ortho research are often better than interview skills. Obviously every situation is unique but you get the gist. Also, it is easy to be top of of mediocre class, but tough to be the top of a competitive class. I thought I was legit heading into denal school and then realized I was only semi-legit ( with regards to studying and grades of course. I'm super legit outside of class obviously). One last point, people shouldn't enter dental school KNOWING they want to specialize. Ya you may have watched a specialst do awesome stuff, but you have NEVER done any of that. My favorite is pre dents that roll in KNOWING they want to be an endodontist. You have no idea what it's like to have a file in your hand. Give me a break. My point is keep options open and have an open mind. People that enter KNOWING they want to specialize close their minds to all D school had to offer. Good luck on your endeavor though. I'm glad I'm through dental school. You poor souls ( it's actually not that bad).

 

[laundry]

I usually don't cruise the pre-dental forum, but every now and then I need a laugh. I love that everyone wants to be an orthodontist. I mean why not. You have a baller office, assistants do everything, and you just sit back and sort your stacks of benji's like Floyd mayweather. Orthodontists don't use their hands. Ya they bend some wire every now and then, but not like any other specialty or general dentist. Orthodontist are mouth engineers and designers. Also, ortho require top scores and top class rank. Unfortunately you can be a robot and get into ortho. No social skills required....maybe an exaggeration but numbers and ortho research are often better than interview skills. Obviously every situation is unique but you get the gist. Also, it is easy to be top of of mediocre class, but tough to be the top of a competitive class. I thought I was legit heading into denal school and then realized I was only semi-legit ( with regards to studying and grades of course. I'm super legit outside of class obviously). One last point, people shouldn't enter dental school KNOWING they want to specialize. Ya you may have watched a specialst do awesome stuff, but you have NEVER done any of that. My favorite is pre dents that roll in KNOWING they want to be an endodontist. You have no idea what it's like to have a file in your hand. Give me a break. My point is keep options open and have an open mind. People that enter KNOWING they want to specialize close their minds to all D school had to offer. Good luck on your endeavor though. I'm glad I'm through dental school. You poor souls ( it's actually not that bad).

I needed a good laugh....I swear, if I hear another D1 telling me they will be OMFS I will lose it...let alone undergrad.

On a serious note, ortho is as hands on as OMFS is about patient management. If you didn't get the humor in the last statement, you don't know dentistry and thus are no where near telling us what you want to do when you grow up.

 

[Wax n Relax]

I needed a good laugh....I swear, if I hear another D1 telling me they will be OMFS I will lose it...let alone undergrad.

On a serious note, ortho is as hands on as OMFS is about patient management. If you didn't get the humor in the last statement, you don't know dentistry and thus are no where near telling us what you want to do when you grow up.

OMFS is about patient management about as much as pedo is about bridge work. Ha.

 

[ktran17]

lolz you guys are cracking me up. Yeah, I thought it was funny when the OP said he enjoyed the hands on aspect of ortho. IMO, the future for ortho will center on graphic's design/ engineer and CAD will definitely play a big role in that, especially with the emergence of 3d printing technology. The actual bending of wires and anything associated with hands on work is mainly performed by the technicians.

Perhaps the orthodontist the OP is shadowing is more old fashion and prefers being more involved? Who knows..

 

[Glimmer1991]

I was trying to be a bit nice with my first reply regarding orthos using their hands, but yeah, I'll say it bluntly now since everyone else is: orthos really don't use their hands. I shadowed an ortho for a few weeks and although it was cool, almost EVERYTHING was done by a computer and the assistants.

The assistants take an impression of the mouth. The impression is sent off to a lab. In the lab, the impression is studied, and a detailed treatment plan is sent back to the ortho. All he has to do is look at the treatment plan on the computer screen and make any adjustments he wants to it (they send back a 3D computer model of what the final product will be) and then "okay" it. The company sends him the exact brackets, wires, etc that he needs. The brackets even come placed on these little "jigs" that fit directly onto the patients' teeth. The assistants are able to place them because of this. The ortho literally spent about 30 seconds with each patient, basically making sure that the assistants didn't mess anything up. He occupied his time by doing lab work, which he used to send off but no longer does because he wouldn't have anything to do all day. He makes lots of retainers and such.

Ortho IS a sweet field, but if you like the surgery-type things, it's your absolute worst option.

 

[KittySquared]

Most SDN predents who worship the ground orthos wall on and dismiss GP will develop a profound respect for GPs after the first stretch of exams. And then, even more so after first year. And by 3rd year, they start to wonder if they should've gone into business or tech. Or anything, for that matter. By end of 4th year, the said predents will have a huge epiphany as they look at their aged faces and prematurly graying hair in the mirror and say "ortho? What ortho? I don't even know if I can graduate on time. Fack life. Fack me."

 

[dentalWorks]

I've been seriously considering orthodontics as a career. I've started shadowing a local orthodontist and I think I'd like the job. Reason being its a lot of hands on work, and I really like that, something I wouldn't get in medicine unless I was a surgeon.

I've searched around and have seen that to become an orthodontist you need to go to a dental school, then rock dental school(get amazing grades, LORs, etc) to get a residency slot for orthodontics, which in the end is a total of 7 years?(4 dental+3 ortho) Is this right?
And most residency slots are very limited like ~3-7 people/year?

Is it possible to get into though? I'm an average undergraduate, but if I put in the time, is it a realistic goal to reach? I wouldn't mind being a GD, but honestly, ortho attracts me the most.


Thanks.

Doable... yes
Wantable.... thats a different story.

its hard to describe how difficult it is to be a top student in dental school. Let me give you a short view. Pretty much every final in dental school is cumulative. Passing those classes with average grades is easy, gets a B+ (or higher) in them requires SOME SERIOUS work ethic, dedication and hardcore organization skills. I am even going to say that if you are naturally smart, its still not enough... there is alot of factual information to memorize, high smarts wouldn't help material jump out of the popwerpoints and into your brain, you need to spend a great deal of time memorizing / reviewing / memorizing / reviewing etc etc.

As i've said before, passing dental school is easy.... being a top ranker, thats a wholeee different world.

There is a reason why about 75-80% of graduates (even the guys with very strong rank) end up in general practice.... many people just don't wanna go through more schooling (and incur more debt from interest rates). IMO, going into this field with the sole purpose of being an orthodontist is foolish, you must first enjoy general dentistry and be content with it, then after graduation, if you got the "right stuff" you can push forward into ortho.