Orthodontic internships

[New_Vegas]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

As a pediatric dentist, I see way more patients than I’d like that should have been debonded by their ortho due to hygiene noncompliance. Like you said, these orthos are driven by money.

“Congratulations! Your teeth are straight…but now you need endo and crowns from canine to canine and you’re only 14 years old.”

I’ve had some cases that were so bad I almost told the parents that if they file a malpractice claim against the ortho I’d be an expert witness for free. I mean the ortho has been seeing these kids every 4-6 weeks and they never said anything about the rampant caries that’s completely visible to the naked eye?!

Big Hoss

Sometimes hygiene can deteriorate very rapidly. It can be bad, and you can tell them that if it doesn't improve that we will take the braces off soon. Then, all of the sudden they come back in 4 weeks with decay everywhere. Sometimes they come back in 4 weeks and it looks totally fine. You can't blame the orthodontist for the patient being completely negligent about their oral health. I assure you the orthodontist was imploring the patient to improve. Encouraging a lawsuit does nobody any good.

 

[New_Vegas]

I have not seen 3 mm of plaque in over 10 years. You can't start a case that is going to result in seeing 3 mm of plaque at every visit. For the aligners, we have mostly stopped doing them. We have gotten very strict about switching over to braces once people start showing they're lazy and don't want to wear them. But I get why you're seeing these things. You need something to pay the bills. Wherever it is that you work probably starts every case that walks in the door because $$$$$. You're likely a good ortho with good intentions, but stuff like this is why there are so many bad ortho results walking around out there.

Oh well sorry, Mr. Perfect. Let me guess, as god's gift to the profession you NEVER have had a single patient with bad oral hygiene. And yes, all my results are terrible because all of my patients walk around with 3mm of plaque caked on their teeth because I am so desperate to start every case that walks in the door.
It's called a metaphor lol. I haven't actually seen 3mm of plaque, that's ridiculous.

 

[gryffindor]

Oh well sorry, Mr. Perfect. Let me guess, as god's gift to the profession you NEVER have had a single patient with bad oral hygiene. And yes, all my results are terrible because all of my patients walk around with 3mm of plaque caked on their teeth because I am so desperate to start every case that walks in the door.
It's called a metaphor lol. I haven't actually seen 3mm of plaque, that's ridiculous.

Look, I have no intention of throwing you under the bus or saying you are desperate. The fact that you are here on SDN posting your experiences to help others shows you care. I'm sure you care about your patients as well. My comment intended to throw shade at your employer who likely does not give you the proper support to deal with patients who have 3 mm of plaque on their braces at every visit let alone seeing multiple of these patients day after day. Your posts have indicated you regret choosing this specialty and I'm very sorry you are having this experience. There is a lot of good in this profession and it sounds like you're in a bad employment situation. There are unfortunately many more bad jobs out there in ortho than there are good jobs. Many of us have had to suffer through the bad jobs to make a living so I feel for you. If you want to PM me, I'm happy to help a colleague survive in this profession. I have gone through a lot of hardships and will tell you that it is not easy out there but you don't have to be living through a career of regret either.

And no, I don't consider myself god's gift to the profession. If anything, those people have already sold out to PE, collected their millions, and are living large on the beach in some low tax state.

I did actually think you were seeing 3mm of plaque. In this profession, seeing the letters "mm" is triggering. Thanks for clarifying about the metaphor.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Look, I have no intention of throwing you under the bus or saying you are desperate. The fact that you are here on SDN posting your experiences to help others shows you care. I'm sure you care about your patients as well. My comment intended to throw shade at your employer who likely does not give you the proper support to deal with patients who have 3 mm of plaque on their braces at every visit let alone seeing multiple of these patients day after day. Your posts have indicated you regret choosing this specialty and I'm very sorry you are having this experience. There is a lot of good in this profession and it sounds like you're in a bad employment situation. There are unfortunately many more bad jobs out there in ortho than there are good jobs. Many of us have had to suffer through the bad jobs to make a living so I feel for you. If you want to PM me, I'm happy to help a colleague survive in this profession. I have gone through a lot of hardships and will tell you that it is not easy out there but you don't have to be living through a career of regret either.

And no, I don't consider myself god's gift to the profession. If anything, those people have already sold out to PE, collected their millions, and are living large on the beach in some low tax state.

I did actually think you were seeing 3mm of plaque. In this profession, seeing the letters "mm" is triggering. Thanks for clarifying about the metaphor.

There are so many garbage practices in every specialty, both with DSOs and private practices. I joined an office that at first seemed like a good opportunity. But, after having worked just one day there, I started looking for another position. The dentistry was utterly terrible these guys were doing, they didn’t properly sterilize instruments, they had dental assistants functioning as dental hygienists, and on and on. I wouldn’t take my own family there and I couldn’t be party to that. Oh, and it was going to turn into nearly a $100,000 pay cut.

Note to new grads out there. If an office is sketchy and not anything like it was promised, find a new job ASAP. Never stick around thinking that things will improve. They don’t.

Big Hoss

 

[dental_education]

For anyone currently looking at Orthodontic residency programs, applications have just opened for a new dental residency program starting this cycle in July 2026. This program has no tuition and include a $40,000 stipend. The application deadline is March 1st and will enroll up to 8 residents. I’m attaching the application portal and program flyer below for anyone who wants more information.

email: [email protected]
Website
Application Link

 

[New_Vegas]

For anyone currently looking at Orthodontic residency programs, applications have just opened for a new dental residency program starting this cycle in July 2026. This program has no tuition and include a $40,000 stipend. The application deadline is March 1st and will enroll up to 8 residents. I’m attaching the application portal and program flyer below for anyone who wants more information.

email: [email protected]
Website
Application Link

Oh great, as if there weren't enough orthodontists already, now there's yet another program opening up and further saturating the field.

 

[JacquesVallee]

For anyone currently looking at Orthodontic residency programs, applications have just opened for a new dental residency program starting this cycle in July 2026. This program has no tuition and include a $40,000 stipend. The application deadline is March 1st and will enroll up to 8 residents. I’m attaching the application portal and program flyer below for anyone who wants more information.

email: [email protected]
Website
Application Link

I'm in line with @New_Vegas. It's good you don't charge tuition, but your services aren't needed. In fact, they're a detriment to this field. We need less orthodontists graduating, not more.

 

[D1Bound]

For anyone currently looking at Orthodontic residency programs, applications have just opened for a new dental residency program starting this cycle in July 2026. This program has no tuition and include a $40,000 stipend. The application deadline is March 1st and will enroll up to 8 residents. I’m attaching the application portal and program flyer below for anyone who wants more information.

email: [email protected]
Website
Application Link

40k a year stipend in Austin, TX. You can’t beat that. I suppose they are planning on the residents producing a ton of value so they can afford to pay the stipend. This isn’t good for these specialties, but students will definitely be signing up!

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

40k a year stipend in Austin, TX. You can’t beat that. I suppose they are planning on the residents producing a ton of value so they can afford to pay the stipend. This isn’t good for these specialties, but students will definitely be signing up!

There are some peds programs that are run like this. More or less grinding it out at a Medicaid mill for 2 years, and you get a certificate at the end. Did you get a solid education along the way? That is the real question…

Big Hoss