What are the pros and cons of being an orthodontist?

The pros of being an orthodontist include good pay, high demand, and helping others, while the cons include the cost of many years of schooling, high stress, and long hours. Orthodontists are able to help people improve their smiles, which can have a positive impact on their self-confidence and overall quality of life. Additionally, the job pays well and offers job security and flexible hours.

What degree do you need to be an orthodontist?

You need a Doctor of Dental Science degree to be an orthodontist. It typically takes 10 to 11 years to become certified and licensed to practice this includes: Four years at an accredited undergraduate school Four years at an accredited dental school Two to three yeast in an accredited orthodontics residency program

What is the career path for an orthodontist?

The career path for an orthodontist begins with the completion of a four-year medical degree followed by a three-year residency program in dentistry. You then complete additional specialization in orthodontics and then need to pass the required exams to become a licensed orthodontist. However, the educational requirements are just the beginning of an orthodontist's career.

How To Become An Orthodontist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an orthodontist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Orthodontists are dental specialists who are trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. They provide a wide range of treatment options to straighten teeth, fix bad bites, and align jaws correctly. They typically deal with hardware, such as retainers or headgear, with the goal of treating the irregularity.

Some duties of an orthodontist include examining patients, assessing abnormalities in the mouth, teeth, or jaw, using diagnostic tools such as x-rays and teeth molds, recommending surgery, monitoring the treatment process, and researching new developments in oral technology. Becoming an orthodontist requires years of dedication. A bachelor's degree meets the requirements for admission into dental school. After studying, you'll need to complete a residency and gain certification by passing dental and orthodontics licensing exams. Becoming an orthodontist usually takes over a decade, or more.

There's more to this position than a lot of studying and looking into people's mouths. The average hourly salary for an orthodontist is $85.35, which equates to $177,000 annually. Once qualified, the monetary gains are generous, and the career is expected to grow 7% in the next few years.

ScoreOrthodontistUS Average

Salary

10.0

Avg. Salary $215,333

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 17.60%

Black or African American 3.09%

Hispanic or Latino 9.12%

Unknown 3.24%

White 66.71%

Gender

female 70.28%

male 29.72%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an orthodontist

Explore orthodontist education requirements

Most common orthodontist degrees

Bachelor's

29.4 %

Doctorate

22.2 %

Master's

12.5 %

Start to develop specific orthodontist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	68.41%
Diagnosis	6.08%
OSHA	3.44%
Ortho	2.79%
Dental Practice	2.06%

Research orthodontist duties and responsibilities

Manage Invisalign treatments and procedures.
Present financial arrangements for all patients, which result in increase revenue and accountability of services accept.
Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills, and establish trust and strong rapport with patients.
Deliver and cement appliances at doctor's request as well as fit and cement orthodontic bands.

Prepare your orthodontist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your orthodontist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an orthodontist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable orthodontist resume templates

Build a professional orthodontist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your orthodontist resume.