| Orthodontists
are dentists who specialize in straightening people’s
teeth. To be an Orthodontist, you need nimble fingers, a scientific
mind, and a love for solving three- dimensional puzzles. Most
of all, an Orthodontist must love helping people of all ages.
Orthodontists use
cutting edge technology to x-ray and examine teeth, and find
the best gadgets to straighten them.
So if you enjoy
helping people and tinkering with science, and you don’t
mind saliva, this may be the career for you!
Not
just tooth straightening...
Research
and Technology- If you love science and technology, research
may be for you. Some Orthodontists work in laboratories developing
new wires, brackets, and glues. They also do research in university
settings studying bone growth and how to move teeth more quickly
and comfortably.
Look
ma, no braces! - Some Orthodontists specialize in "invisible"
braces! The Orthodontists place braces on the back of the
teeth or use sets of clear trays like mouth guards that move
the teeth.
Cleft
palate teams- If helping people is your goal, you may
be interested in Cleft Palate Teams. When children are born
with clefts, the bones and tissues in their mouth and lips
have not formed regularly, leaving gaps. Orthodontists provide
treatment along with oral surgeons, plastic surgeons, and
speech therapists.
Interview with an Orthodontist: John
McDonald :
Dr. John McDonald
loves teeth. While other people might be grossed out, Dr.
John enjoys spending his whole day with his fingers in people’s
mouths.
He began preparing
for Orthodontics in high school by working in Orthodontic
offices. He also loved to build model airplanes and rockets
and discovered he was good with his hands.
In college, he
completed his pre-dental courses and was able to major in
economics. He then attended 4 years of Dental school. After
working as a dentist for 4 years, he entered 2 years of Orthodontic
school. Finally, he was ready to straighten teeth!
Many people are
surprised to hear how much science Dr. John had to learn to
be an Orthodontist. "It helps to love science to understand
anatomy of the mouth," says Dr. John. "It’s
amazing that the teeth actually move over time. What other
part of your body can move like that? Just imagine if you
could push your nose with your finger and it would move across
your face!"
Dr. John loves
people and loves to give them great smiles. He has had patients
from age 7 to 77. "Having a great smile can change a
person’s life. They feel more confident and actually
smile more!"
And it’s
not just about great looking teeth: "Orthodontic care
can help people keep their teeth for their lifetime. People
with dental problems can see their teeth break, wear down,
or even become painful and lose teeth at an early age,"
explains Dr. John.
While Orthodontists
don’t do fillings, teeth cleaning, or root canals, Dr.
John encourages his patients to take the best care possible
of their teeth. "Taking care of your teeth and orthodontic
appliances can be a big job, and we help people through."
Some orthodontic problems are a bear, though. "One patient
was camping and accidentally left his retainer on a tree stump
while hiking. He hiked back 20 minutes later and a bear was
rummaging through the campsite and munching on his retainer!"
"I’ve
got the best job in the world," says Dr. John. "I
get to help people get a great smile with little pain and
lots of fun!"
What
You Can Do to Get Ready:
Orthodontists need
to become Dentists first , so prepare for college and four
years of dental school. Take and enjoy science classes and
work with your hands. Spend some time with your local Dentist
or Orthodontist.
What
it Pays:
Orthodontists can
make between $70,000 and $300,000 per year. Many Orthodontists
have school loans to pay off and have to build up their practice
over several years, but the hard work can pay off!
Other
Resources:
The
American Association of Orthodontists
site has cool time lapse movies of straightening teeth.
Overview
of dental careers.
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