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Orthodontist
Though it is not necessary to have "perfect teeth" to have a beautiful smile, having proper alignment of teeth can prevent chronic pain and other serious long-term ailments in other areas of the body.  For various reasons, many people lack access to proper dental care and therefore continue to suffer from these ailments.  If you would like to help these people by helping to fill this void and if you excel in Science, Math, and Health, then you should pursue a career in Orthodontics. 

Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. Orthodontic treatment can be carried out solely for aesthetic reasons—improving the general appearance of patients' teeth and face for cosmetic reasons—but treatment is often prescribed for practical reasons, providing the patient with a functionally improved bite (occlusion).

​Orthodonists examine, diagnose, treat, prevent, and correct dental malocclusions (improper bites) and oral cavity anomalies.  They design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.  Orthodontists straighten teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces, retainers, and other appliances.  Tools and equipment include:  x-ray machines, drills, mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, scalpels, as well as lasers, digital scanners, and other computer technologies.

The duties of an Orthodontist include but are not limited to:  repairing cracked or fractured teeth and removing teeth; examining x-rays of teeth, gums, the jaw, and nearby areas for problems; diagnosing patients and developing a treatment plan; making plaster models of teeth and taking measurements for dental appliances/hardware (braces, retainers, headgear, etc.) to fit patients; employing hardware with the goal of aligning the jaws and teeth to improve appearance or patients' ability to chew and swallow food without difficulty or pain; performing oral surgery; administering anesthetics to keep patients from feeling pain during procedures; writing prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications; educating patients and parents about proper diet, flossing, use of fluoride, and other aspects of dental care; and conducting research and teaching at universities.

High school students interested in becoming an Orthodontist benefit from taking Health, Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Trigonometry, Biology/Anatomy, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics.  Students entering Pre-Dental Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous Orthodontic training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.  Upon completion of undergraduate studies, candidates must earn a 4-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited school of dentistry, complete a 4-year Orthodontic residency, and pass all parts of the National Board Dental Examination and the individual state's board of dentistry clinical examination in order to practice medicine as a licensed, credentialed Orthodontist.  Licensure is required in all states by each state.

​Employment of Orthodontists is expected to grow by 21 percent over the next decade, which is still not expected to keep pace with the increased demand for their services.  There are still areas of the country where patients have little access to dental care.  And Orthodontists will continue to see an increase in demand for their services as studies continue to link oral health to overall health—like jaw alignment's link to migraine headaches.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
​Median Salary:  $126,500

Salary Range:  ~$83,370 - $177,850+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming an Orthodontist have been to attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Biology (Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Health Professions, or Medical Technology concentration), Pre-Medicine (Dentistry concentration), Chemistry (Pre-Dentistry concentration), Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Medical Technology.

All dental schools require applicants to have completed undergraduate work in Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and to successfully complete the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) during their junior year.  Dental schools use the DAT, GPA, and recommendations to admit students into their programs.  Majoring in a science, such as Biology, might increase the chances of being accepted, but no specific major is required to enter most dental programs.  Many students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions and to build mentor-mentee relationships with Dentists.

Local Anesthesia, Anatomy, Periodontology, and Radiology are among the required classes in dental schools.  All dental schools include practice where students work with patients in a clinical setting under the supervision of a Licensed Dentist.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Schools of Dentistry and related majors are:  Howard University (Washington, DC); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); and Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama).
Available Scholarships