Orthodontics certificate

[SugarNaCl]

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A dentist I don't know very well has been working in general practice for about 30 years. He is probably in his late 50s now. A couple of years ago, while he kept his business going, he started also taking classes for his certificate in orthodontics. He received it this year but I haven't met with him since.

I was curious as to how one can keep a practice up and get certified and also what practice he is limited to? Can he now act as a general dentist as well as an orthodontist? I thought ortho was a full time specialty program. What am I missing?

 

[Lesley]

A dentist I don't know very well has been working in general practice for about 30 years. He is probably in his late 50s now. A couple of years ago, while he kept his business going, he started also taking classes for his certificate in orthodontics. He received it this year but I haven't met with him since.

I was curious as to how one can keep a practice up and get certified and also what practice he is limited to? Can he now act as a general dentist as well as an orthodontist? I thought ortho was a full time specialty program. What am I missing?

As a general dentist there are courses available that offer extensive continuing education in orthodontics, but as a general dentist you can not advertise as having a speciality. My husband and I took a program like this about 20 years ago. It involved a full Sat and Sun each month for two years, and we each obtained a "certificate." We more recently took the invisalign course. At the moment, we have a general practice that does not involve any fixed orthodontics. We are busy enough with other facets of dentistry. The training was good and informative, but it did not fit into our practice well, and we prefer to refer almost all ortho. When I took the fellowship exam for the Academy of General Dentistry, ortho was one of my highest scores, so I guess I learned something. It is sort of a costly program, so I think it's good to think how much this type of program would fit into your practice before you spend the money. For us, it wasn't efficient. Most orthodontic offices have orthodontic assistants doing the majority of the work, at a general dentist's office, it's the general dentist. Good Luck.

 

[deejay2]

Thank you for the information.
Kindly give me the link to the colleges that offer the cert.in orthodontics.

deejay2

 

[SugarNaCl]

As a general dentist there are orthodontic training courses available that offer certificates in orthodontics, but as a general dentist you can not advertise as having a speciality. My husband and I took a program like this about 20 years ago. It involved a full Sat and Sun each month for two years, and we each obtained a "certificate." We more recently took the invisalign course. At the moment, we have a general practice that does not involve any fixed orthodontics. We are busy enough with other facets of dentistry. The training was good and informative, but it did not fit into our practice well, and we prefer to refer almost all ortho. When I took the fellowship exam for the Academy of General Dentistry, ortho was one of my highest scores, so I guess I learned something. It is sort of a costly program, so I think it's good to think how much this type of program would fit into your practice before you spend the money. For us, it wasn't efficient. Most orthodontic offices have orthodontic assistants doing the majority of the work, at a general dentist's office, it's the general dentist. Good Luck.

Thanks Lesley.

 

[collegeboy30000]

Thank you for the information.
Kindly give me the link to the colleges that offer the cert.in orthodontics.

deejay2

http://www.braces.org/studentsteachers/careers/orthodontistcareer.cfm

 

[SugarNaCl]

Can you take these classes to get your certificate for any dental specialty, while you are practicing? Many in prosthodontics don't seem to pay. I doubt I will even specialize, but I don't want to set my mind/heart on something and then have it not work out.

 

[dentalman]

These "certificates" are just a fancy name for continuing education. These are not to be confused with the certificates that you earn after a fulltime, multiple year program for specialization. Having clarified that, I think general dentists should continue to learn, but realize that one can't possibly learn everything in a weekend course, although I've heard some of them are quite good. I think the important thing is ... know your limits.

 

[SugarNaCl]

These "certificates" are just a fancy name for continuing education. These are not to be confused with the certificates that you earn after a fulltime, multiple year program for specialization. Having clarified that, I think general dentists should continue to learn, but realize that one can't possibly learn everything in a weekend course, although I've heard some of them are quite good. I think the important thing is ... know your limits.

Right. Obviously 24 days/yr for 2 years isn't going to allow you to do what someone specializing 250 days/yr for 3 yrs can, but I just meant for the slightly more than average general dentistry position would allow... because I doubt I will complete a formal specialty. Thanks for the info.

 

[Doc Smile]

Right. Obviously 24 days/yr for 2 years isn't going to allow you to do what someone specializing 250 days/yr for 3 yrs can, but I just meant for the slightly more than average general dentistry position would allow... because I doubt I will complete a formal specialty. Thanks for the info.

The two dentists I worked for in undergrad (one a GP and the other a prosthodontist) referred hardly anything, largely because they took so many CE courses and felt confidant, comfortable, and competent in many facets of dentistry. While they referred all the ortho, they did almost all 3rd molar extractions using conscious sedation (they would still refer impacted and full bonies to the oral surgeons), many perio procedures, and even did a bunch of their own lab work (bc the prosth would teach the staff and other dr a lot of prosth-stuff). Because of this, they are a very very very successful practice.