Orthodontics As a Career

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that corrects misalignments between jaws. Additionally, it makes your mouth easier to keep clean while helping prevent gum disease – with treatments including braces or other appliances.

Orthodontists must possess both a dental degree and pass a national certification test to become specialists. Following that, two to three years of additional specialized training is typically provided before entering practice.

It’s a great career choice

Orthodontics is an ideal career choice for individuals looking for something challenging and rewarding. It requires both intelligence and patience in equal measures; manual dexterity must also be good, along with being comfortable working in tight spaces with small parts. While general dentistry requires less physical labor than orthodontics does, orthodontists require both. Furthermore, burnout must always be kept in mind as an issue; maintaining a work-life balance is vitally important.

People often have an understanding of what orthodontists do, yet aren’t entirely certain what differentiates them from general dentists. Orthodontic treatment focuses on correcting alignment issues between teeth and their bite. Orthodontic care can address various dental issues including malocclusion (bad bite), underbite, overbite or even impacted teeth – not to mention improving appearance by improving smiles through orthodontistry treatment.

An orthodontist’s career path can be lengthy and winding, starting with earning a bachelor’s degree in relevant subjects and graduating at the top of your dental school class. Following that step is two years of postdoctoral orthodontic training before embarking on orthodontist practice – this process may take 10-11 years of your life! To be an orthodontist can be quite a commitment so be ready to make this commitment before setting off on this career journey.

Orthodontists often specialize in craniofacial orthodontics, treating children with facial deformities. Others prefer academic or hospital environments; yet most orthodontists choose private practices with multiple locations where assistants, hygienists and administrative staff work alongside orthodontists; many businesses remain open seven days a week while some opt to work part time.

It’s rewarding

Smiles are one of the most prominent characteristics that define an individual and how others view them, especially within professional careers. Orthodontic treatment gives patients a gorgeous smile to boost their confidence and raise self-esteem; plus it makes maintaining oral health simpler; all contributing to increased overall quality of life.

Patients often struggle to select an orthodontic provider. When possible, patients may look for practices near them or familiar to them to minimize visits and increase treatment adherence. Choosing an orthodontist close by could reduce visits as well as treatment slippage.

Orthodontics is also rewarding because it’s a low risk specialty. By keeping careful records and documenting each case meticulously, and planning treatment carefully for each individual patient, legal and clinical problems can easily be avoided. Furthermore, it’s easy to correct mistakes without harming patients; for instance if an orthodontic bracket is placed too incisal or gingival it can simply be rebonded on future appointments.

Orthodontic treatment not only enhances smiles but can also prevent other dental issues and promote overall health. Malocclusion can cause improper chewing and poor nutrient absorption. Crookedness increases injury risk during physical activities – orthodontic treatments may relieve these symptoms by correcting bite issues and relieving stress from jaws.

Orthodontists may save their patients from more extensive dental work such as root canals, crowns and extractions by detecting misalignment or crowding in teeth at early stages – enabling them to correct it before it causes more permanent damage.

Orthodontics requires significant training, yet is extremely rewarding and profitable for dentists – particularly GP practices without excessive marketing expenses and supply costs. By adding orthodontics to your practice, adding value for existing customers while offering more services will bring in new ones as well as increasing income potential and expanding services offered to potential new customers.

It’s challenging

Orthodontics is an intensely challenging profession in today’s society. Constant scrutiny from public perception makes balancing family, work and practice challenging; plus orthodontists must contend with new government controls and compliance issues.

Many orthodontic patients can experience anxiety when getting their braces tightened, but there are things they can do to ease the process. Listening to soothing music or podcasts before your appointment and during it may help ease any discomfort you might feel; some orthodontist offices even provide television screens so patients can watch during their visit! You could also bring headphones so you can listen to audiobooks or music during your appointment, providing a distraction from equipment noises.

As well as straightening your teeth, orthodontic treatment can also improve the shape of your face. This may help avoid surgery later and decrease any chin or jaw deformities which could otherwise lead to TMJ and arthritis. Your orthodontist may even use orthodontics to address sleep apnea caused by growth deformities in the upper jaw and airway which blocks breathing while sleeping – an issue they are uniquely qualified to manage.

Orthodontic treatment can also address protruding front teeth caused by thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting or prolonged bottle or pacifier use. This condition can be painful and disfiguring and should be addressed quickly before it leads to further issues in future such as crowding of misaligning of teeth or bite dysfunctions.

Though orthodontics is challenging, it remains an excellent way for dentists to diversify their practices and expand their clientele. But it’s important to remember that orthodontics is a specialty field requiring years of postgraduate education if you want to become successful orthodontist. Working hard and having strong support will be necessary – if it proves too demanding, consider becoming general dentist instead.

It’s fun

Orthodontics is an exciting field, and nothing compares to seeing the fruits of your labor! From helping children feel more secure socially to ensuring proper dental hygiene practices are observed and adhered to, orthodontics provides many opportunities for personal fulfillment in its many forms. Plus, its constantly-evolving nature means there’s always something new and interesting to discover!

Many may choose orthodontics because of its financial perks, including high salaries and benefits packages, while others might do it to make others happier with themselves. Becoming an orthodontist requires special skillset, an advanced technical understanding, good communication abilities and interpersonal abilities. Furthermore, understanding human body mechanics is necessary in many orthodontic treatments.

Orthodontia, in Greek, refers to straight or correcting of teeth. Both Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about ways to move teeth back in 400 BC; however, in 1728 Pierre Fauchard, known as the father of dentistry, invented the first modern-day orthodontic device using gold wire fastened with waxed linen or silk threads to straighten his patients’ teeth more effectively.

Nitinol, an innovative type of nickel titanium developed by the United States Navy to use on antennae and solar panels for satellites, serves as the archwire used in orthodontics. This super-strong and flexible metal has shape memory properties which enable it to bend to fit inside mouth without breaking; furthermore it reverts back to original shape when heated up again.

Make orthodontic treatment fun for your kids by throwing a party with foods they will need to avoid once they receive braces, encouraging them to eat their veggies and drink smoothies (which provide soothing nutrients), and being supportive in showing that you’re enthusiastic about their new smile!