Orthodontics question

[jollybjolly]

---

Members don't see this ad.

How many of the students in your class who applied to specialize in orthodontics got accepted? How were their DAT scores/GPA?

Just want to get an idea of some numbers..

 

[Avery07]

How many of the students in your class who applied to specialize in orthodontics got accepted? How were their DAT scores/GPA?

Just want to get an idea of some numbers..

So I hate to be the guy to tell you there's no Santa but orthodontics is considered the most competitive (right there with oral surgery) dental specialty. I'm not sure of the analysis of DAT and GPA scores with respect to this specialty program but I do know you will need to be in the top 5-10% of your graduating dental class.

There's a pretty nasty statistic in that ~50% of dental school applicants have aspirations for orthodontics. In fact, one student once told me a story where on the first day of dental school, a professor asked all the students how many of them wanted to become an orthodontist. About 60% of the class raised their hands. Unfortunately the numbers don't add up and when dental school is over, you will be competing against 100 other students for a program with 2-4 seats available. It's cut throat and not only will you need to be the best of undergrads to get into dental school.. you are going to have to find a way to be the best of the best. Not saying this isn't possible, it will just take a lot of work.

Personally, I would advise to never tell anyone you want to do orthodontics during your application to dental school. Furthermore, I wouldn't apply to dental school if this is all you want. Just knowing the competitiveness of this specialty, you should be happy being a general dentist and be pleasantly surprised if you are accepted into an orthodontics program. If a dental school catches wind that you only want to be an orthodontist, you just put up a wall with them. In addition to all these reasons, you have no idea what you want to do until you get into dental school. I've talked with many dental students about specialties and the majority of them have agreed that it takes a coupe years of dental school to really know what you want to do.

I'm not saying don't specialize. In fact, I would recommend that everyone start dental school with the intentions of specializing, as just to keep your scores competitive enough so that if one day you do want to do something like this, that door isn't completely shut.

I'm not trying to discourage you but just know what you're up against and know that there are plenty of situations where you may want to keep your "orthodontist card" hidden.

 

[gorrillaunit18]

Long story short...it's frickin hard to get in to. 👍

 

[dentaldawg32]

So I hate to be the guy to tell you there's no Santa but orthodontics is considered the most competitive (right there with oral surgery) dental specialty. I'm not sure of the analysis of DAT and GPA scores with respect to this specialty program but I do know you will need to be in the top 5-10% of your graduating dental class.

There's a pretty nasty statistic in that ~50% of dental school applicants have aspirations for orthodontics. In fact, one student once told me a story where on the first day of dental school, a professor asked all the students how many of them wanted to become an orthodontist. About 60% of the class raised their hands. Unfortunately the numbers don't add up and when dental school is over, you will be competing against 100 other students for a program with 2-4 seats available. It's cut throat and not only will you need to be the best of undergrads to get into dental school.. you are going to have to find a way to be the best of the best. Not saying this isn't possible, it will just take a lot of work.

Personally, I would advise to never tell anyone you want to do orthodontics during your application to dental school. Furthermore, I wouldn't apply to dental school if this is all you want. Just knowing the competitiveness of this specialty, you should be happy being a general dentist and be pleasantly surprised if you are accepted into an orthodontics program. If a dental school catches wind that you only want to be an orthodontist, you just put up a wall with them. In addition to all these reasons, you have no idea what you want to do until you get into dental school. I've talked with many dental students about specialties and the majority of them have agreed that it takes a coupe years of dental school to really know what you want to do.

I'm not saying don't specialize. In fact, I would recommend that everyone start dental school with the intentions of specializing, as just to keep your scores competitive enough so that if one day you do want to do something like this, that door isn't completely shut.

I'm not trying to discourage you but just know what you're up against and know that there are plenty of situations where you may want to keep your "orthodontist card" hidden.

Uhh where did you get this statistic?

 

[ItalianPrincess]

i dont have any statistical proof but i shadowed my orthodontist and he told me the exact same thing..he was in the top 3% of his class and ortho programs only take a few students a year

i also just visited UB and they only took 3 kids into their ortho program this year

dont worry i wont be competition 😀 ortho's not enough gore for me

 

[Avery07]

Uhh where did you get this statistic?

Ex dental school dean. I know it's not completely accurate but even if he was half wrong, it's still a wake up call.

 

[dentaldawg32]

Ex dental school dean. I know it's not completely accurate but even if he was half wrong, it's still a wake up call.

He was exaggerating. There would be no way to corroborate that claim unless some kind of survey was sent out to students, which is highly unlikely.

 

[gorrillaunit18]

One of my letter of recommendation writers actually teaches orthodontics at a school and he told me that it's ridiculously hard to get in to.

 

[DoctreDrey]

how hard to get into vs. oral surgery?

 

[sfoksn]

What the hell does ortho residency have anything to do with DAT/GPA? 😕

 

[gorrillaunit18]

how hard to get into vs. oral surgery?

At the school he taught it they took 3 students per year for their othro program, and only took 1 student for oral surgery! 😱

 

[DoctreDrey]

At the school he taught it they took 3 students per year for their othro program, and only took 1 student for oral surgery! 😱

why did u tell me? WHY??!?

 

[gorrillaunit18]

why did u tell me? WHY??!?

I'm sorry!!! 🙁😀

 

[khangreen]

It's true. Orthodontics programs usually take less than 10 people a year (most are less than 5 and these are high estimates) and most dental schools seem to take from 80-150 students a year. Considering the high demand and limited supply, only the best of the best will be taken into those programs. Oral surgery is even more competitive than orthodontics. Good luck though.

 

[ItalianPrincess]

What the hell does ortho residency have anything to do with DAT/GPA? 😕

👍

 

[prsuser]

Focus on getting into D-school before worrying about specializing. You may actually change your mind after being exposed to other fields of dentistry. Good luck! 😀

 

[305602]

what the hell does ortho residency have anything to do with dat/gpa? 😕

+1

 

[DoctreDrey]

What the hell does ortho residency have anything to do with DAT/GPA? 😕

i think i read on the residency forum that oral surgery residencies take ur undergrad GPA into consideration. could be the same for orthodontics seeing as its so competitive..

 

[Simple Jack]

i think i read on the residency forum that oral surgery residencies take ur undergrad GPA into consideration. could be the same for orthodontics seeing as its so competitive..

that's very interesting. can anyone confirm this?

 

[KingChris]

I'm applying to OMFS programs right now and I can confirm that all of them want my undergrad transcripts.

 

[aelian]

Just to give the OP some perspective.
For Houston, there are I believe 6 ortho spots for a class that has 84 students per year. I know two people who got in who were 2 and 4 in there class. One was number 6 or 7. And the other was in the top 10 somewhere. The other two were from another dental school. To give you an idea of how good you have to be, just know you'll have to get an A in everything you do, almost. You are already surrounded by smart people and half of them will be applying to specialty, half will just settle for general. A lot of people want that ortho spot (it's the dermatology of dentistry). What they consider for who gets the spot or not. Only speaking for Houston, they look at your rank and your Boards, as well as slightly your involvement. So if you really want ortho, work hard from day one. The number 2 I mentioned earlier would wake up at 2 AM everyday to study. 2. 😴

 

[yappy]

Is endo or perio as competitive as ortho? What kinda numbers do you need for these other programs?

 

[dentalWorks]

How many of the students in your class who applied to specialize in orthodontics got accepted? How were their DAT scores/GPA?

Just want to get an idea of some numbers..

In my temple interview last week. Brian (the admission guy) walked us into their ortho clinic. He said, every year they get about 600 applicants for ortho, they interview 20, and accept only 6 😱😱😱 (out of the 600)

So you tell me how hard ortho really is 🙂

 

[newmexomfs]

Ortho is executive dentistry. A great orthodontist I spoke with told me that the reason he applied to be one is that it was good for his back. While general dentists work hard 8 hours a day 4/5 days a week, he basically gave instructions to assistants on what to do. He is 80 year old doc and a great golfer. Also remember that most ortho program will require you to take GRE and very soon the NBDEs are changing to pass/fail system. This means your dental school grades, rank, GRE scores, leadership positions (class president, ASDA involvement), community outreach etc. will be emphasized more in the selection process. Also almost all Ortho program require you to publish papers. Therefore, a research background is absolutely necessary, both as an undergraduate and a dental student.

Moreover, after talking to a young lady, who is on ADA new dentist committee, I learned that ADA is planning to develop an entrance test for most sought after residency programs in the near future. SO for those of us who are applying this cycle, don even worry. Things will be different when we all graduate. Do remember that in the end all that matters is your networking skills. You need professors who can talk for you! Don stress out!