Orthodontist

[iambatman]

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Could someone help me? What is it about wanting to do Orthodontics, that is so applealing?

If I wanted to get into Orthodontics, what do I have to accomplish? Do I need to start anything from University Level work? Or is it mainly Dental School where I have to 'kick ass' in?

Would they look at DAT scores and/or University GPA's, or is it mainly things that are accomplished in Dental School?

Thanks for your help.

 

[PublicHealth]

Could someone help me? What is it about wanting to do Orthodontics, that is so applealing?

$$$.

 

[iambatman]

$$$.

So, what happened to the, "I wanna be a dentist because I like working with my hands, and I like working with people"?

From the 'little' that I know, don't Orthodontists have very structured work to do, and also, aren't patients reffered to them, on a constant basis - that may be appealing too, right? Less stress - but along with less stress, less stimulation and challenge with work, and that could be a downfall I guess.

Back to my question, (please read above, thanks).

 

[SuperTrooper]

It's mostly about things accomplished in dental school. Your dental class rank and your board scores are the most important. Also, you gotta have good letters of rec from your dental professors. And you should be involved in leadership, research, etc.

I really don't think they'd look at your DAT scores. And they might consider your university transcript if you did really poorly. I don't know what you mean by "Do I need to start anything from University Level work?" Also, some programs involve getting a master's degree so you have to take the GRE - I don't know if they really look at that score much.

I don't think you'll find many orthodontists who say their work isn't challenging and stimulating.

 

[iambatman]

I don't think you'll find many orthodontists who say their work isn't challenging and stimulating.

I'm sorry. Forgive me for my ignorance. But thanks for your post though!

 

[jpollei]

$$$.

Hmmm...maybe. Usually if you can't live on a general dentist's income, you likely won't live happily on an ortho income. Besides, if you were purely in it for the bucks, there are more lucrative aspects of dentistry (on average) than ortho--OMFS, endo, etc.

For a lot of us, the idea of a long-term project is appealing, though that exact reason is what drives some people away. The prevailing patient age (teens) and attitude toward treatment (favorable), as well as developing a long-term relationship with whole families is a plus. The reality that it is primarily want-driven and not need-driven (read: less dictation of fees by insurance) is sure nice as a business owner, too. Then on top of all that, think about how many materials and techniques a good generalist has to keep current on... (Seriously, can you name all the physical and chemical properties of the dozens of composites, curing lights, ceramics, alloys, anesthetics, lasers, hand instruments, luting agents, etc. that are used in general practice?)

Ortho has it's positives...but you better be sure you know what you're getting in to. I'd suggest you band/bond a few comprehensive cases (i.e. 18-24 month cases) as a dental student to get your feet wet and see how you like it. Shadow a few private practice docs and spend time in the resident clinic at your school, too (since both aspects of the same specialty may be very different).

 

[drben]

$$$.

My wealthiest colleagues ARE NOT orthodontists...they are GP's. On average orthodontists make more money than GP's, but if you are motivated by money be a general dentist...As a GP it is easier to market yourself, and practice than it is as a specialist. As an orthodontist you have to worry about making your patients happy AS WELL AS your referring Doc's.

Ben

 

[toofache32]

Ortho is a good backup if you ever get 9 of your fingers cut off. You only need one finger as an orthodontist...to count your money. And to point to which patient you want your assistant to bond.

 

[kenniemd]

Ortho is a good backup if you ever get 9 of your fingers cut off. You only need one finger as an orthodontist...to count your money. And to point to which patient you want your assistant to bond.

Damn, that was so mean

 

[toofache32]

Damn, that was so mean

Just a joke! We all have our stereotypes.

 

[gryffindor]

Ortho has it's positives...but you better be sure you know what you're getting in to. I'd suggest you band/bond a few comprehensive cases (i.e. 18-24 month cases) as a dental student to get your feet wet and see how you like it. Shadow a few private practice docs and spend time in the resident clinic at your school, too (since both aspects of the same specialty may be very different).

Band and bond full cases (multiple!?!) as a dental student? Is this the norm at other dental schools?

 

[jpollei]

Band and bond full cases (multiple!?!) as a dental student? Is this the norm at other dental schools?

I can only speak for UNC; but I know that at least five of us applying out of my class have each had multiple cases we've started (and some finished). Great predoc ortho experience...I've had Class I, II and III patients.

Everyone has to do some ortho to graduate...many of my classmates (those that want nothing to do with ortho in practice) only do one case, though. One lad out of here who started ortho this last fall at VCU did 7-8 cases...it just depends on how much each student wants to do.

 

[12YearOldKid]

We were allowed to bracket up a dentiform in lab... but only under direct supervision. And all the while repeating the mantra, "orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals, orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals."

Most others students I have talked to have had similar experiences. The ortho knowledge taught at my school consists of just enough to pass boards which takes about 2 lectures. The other 20 lectures can be summed up in 1 word --- refer.

It's not a huge deal to me because I don't plan on offering any ortho in my practice when I get out. But it would have been nice to at least have a little better understanding of the field. If they are going to charge me through the nose to sit through all those of lectures the least they could have done is... gasp... teach me something. 😀

 

[toofache32]

We were allowed to bracket up a dentiform in lab... but only under direct supervision. And all the while repeating the mantra, "orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals, orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals."

Same at my school. The answer to every test question was "refer to an orthodontist"

 

[drben]

Same at my school. The answer to every test question was "refer to an orthodontist"

Good to know that yawl are getting a SOLID orthodontic education...you learned all you need to 😉

 

[ktcook83]

Damn, that was so mean

Hey, the truth hurts 😉

 

[ktcook83]

$$$

 

[tooth_sleuth]

Or is it mainly Dental School where I have to 'kick ass' in?

'kick ass' and 'kiss ass'

 

[toofache32]

'kick ass' and 'kiss ass'

If your tongue and shoe aren't both brown....you're not trying hard enough.

 

[RubySlippers]

We were allowed to bracket up a dentiform in lab... but only under direct supervision. And all the while repeating the mantra, "orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals, orthodontics is too complex to be understood by mere mortals."

.... If they are going to charge me through the nose to sit through all those of lectures the least they could have done is... gasp... teach me something. 😀

Same at my school. And for a bonus whenever we need a consult for our patients you get the "It's okay I don't expect you to understand what I am doing" feeling from them.

 

[esclavo]

Ortho is a good backup if you ever get 9 of your fingers cut off. You only need one finger as an orthodontist...to count your money. And to point to which patient you want your assistant to bond.

If the thought of a needle frightens you... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you think 2 drops of blood and gooey saliva are for "Fear Factor"... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you wanna have a ton of hot chicks do 90% of your day to day work... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you like watching grass grow- s l o w l y... you might wanna be an orthodontist

I'm like the short fat hispanic dental Jeff Foxworthy. This is a fun activity. We could do it for all the specialties....

 

[jpollei]

If the thought of a needle frightens you... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you think 2 drops of blood and gooey saliva are for "Fear Factor"... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you wanna have a ton of hot chicks do 90% of your day to day work... you might wanna be an orthodontist

If you like watching grass grow- s l o w l y... you might wanna be an orthodontist

I'm like the short fat hispanic dental Jeff Foxworthy. This is a fun activity. We could do it for all the specialties....

Very good! Can't really think of any way off the top of my head that you could work "miliseverts" or "equivalent dose" into an Oral Radiology bit, though.

 

[wayoutwest]

Band and bond full cases (multiple!?!) as a dental student? Is this the norm at other dental schools?

At our school the most we do is observe the residents and maybe tie in some wires. Not much experience at all, if you ask me...

 

[jpollei]

At our school the most we do is observe the residents and maybe tie in some wires. Not much experience at all, if you ask me...

Seems like it's that way most places.

 

[litlmisa]

I have been an Ortho assistant for 5 years, and now I am applying to dental school. Here is my 2 cents:

As an assistant- it is the best position to have because I do 95% of the work, I do adjustments, banding, debond, bonding prep, pontic work, records, repairs, head gear, Invisalign, custom retainers...the list goes on and on. It's great because of the variety. BUT I would not specialize in ortho because the assistants do 95% of the work. My doc sees every Patient for about five mins and then tells me what to do (we run 4 to five chairs). As a doc I think that this would get really boring.
Also the profit is not that great compared to say endo. Why? Because the cost of materials is so high-Ortho supplies are about 35-40% of the cost. Compared to endo that is huge! and means less $ in your pocket.
And a lot of ortho patients are not fun to work on- they whine about the pain of braces and you have to baby the adults more than the teens/kids. Also they always have lunch stuck in their bands and under their wires, and forget to bring their retainers to their "retainer check" appointments. 😉

So long story short-you need to decide what your reasons are. Do you want lots of Patient contact, money, hands on work... then decide what specialty is right for you.
mm

 

[drben]

I have been an Ortho assistant for 5 years, and now I am applying to dental school. Here is my 2 cents:

As an assistant- it is the best position to have because I do 95% of the work, I do adjustments, banding, debond, bonding prep, pontic work, records, repairs, head gear, Invisalign, custom retainers...the list goes on and on. It's great because of the variety. BUT I would not specialize in ortho because the assistants do 95% of the work. My doc sees every Patient for about five mins and then tells me what to do (we run 4 to five chairs). As a doc I think that this would get really boring.
Also the profit is not that great compared to say endo. Why? Because the cost of materials is so high-Ortho supplies are about 35-40% of the cost. Compared to endo that is huge! and means less $ in your pocket.
And a lot of ortho patients are not fun to work on- they whine about the pain of braces and you have to baby the adults more than the teens/kids. Also they always have lunch stuck in their bands and under their wires, and forget to bring their retainers to their "retainer check" appointments. 😉

So long story short-you need to decide what your reasons are. Do you want lots of Patient contact, money, hands on work... then decide what specialty is right for you.
mm

There is NO way that the cost of your doc's orthodontic supplies is 35-40% of the practice's gross income...According to Blair, McGill, and what I have observed, 7-10% of practice income is dedicated to "orthodontic supplies". The single greatest overhead number in orthodontics is labor. Depending on where you are the range is 22-30%.

As far as nasty teeth go...you are about to change your mind about what constitutes "gross" 😉 The rest of your post is dead on...adult orthodontic patients can be some of the biggest whiners ever, and I love it when I ask patients why they even bothered to come for the retainer check appointment and didn't bring their retainers...

Ben

 

[gryffindor]

The kids in braces in the suburban & ritzy Manhattan offices were some of the cleanest mouths I have seen.

Lunch stuck in braces is mild compared to what you have coming for you in dental school.

 

[toofache32]

As an assistant- it is the best position to have because I do 95% of the work, I do adjustments, banding, debond, bonding prep, pontic work, records, repairs, head gear, Invisalign, custom retainers...the list goes on and on...

....My doc sees every Patient for about five mins and then tells me what to do.

I rest my case. Refer to post #8.

 

[samar101]

I also need urgently a synopsis.. a four pager upon orthodontics and have every thing that is necessary for research.. it should be according to Pakistan..

Please who can help me get this paper I am worried to death

Help Help Help

 

[Stacker]

I also need urgently a synopsis.. a four pager upon orthodontics and have every thing that is necessary for research.. it should be according to Pakistan..

Please who can help me get this paper I am worried to death

Help Help Help

This thread is seven years old. The average SDNer knows nothing about dentistry in Pakistan. Look at something like pubmed or springerlink.

 

[yappy]

lol. Foreigners are always so out of it.