Becoming an orthodontist is a long and arduous journey through school. If you break down the amount of studies needed, you'll see that the four years to earn the degree, the four years in dental school, and the two additional years in a residency program will make up for this time. You must be dedicated and willing to learn if you want to become an orthodontist. An orthodontist's schooling time lasts a minimum of two years, but some residency programs can last up to three. These programs focus on acquiring the practical experience that orthodontists need to master the specialty of their choice.
If your child has had a great experience with orthodontic care, you may be wondering what it would take to become an orthodontist one day. Or maybe you've always been thinking about starting a new career in dentistry. Only 6 percent of dentists successfully pursue this advanced specialty, which requires two to three years of training after dental school. If you're contemplating this path, prepare for at least a decade of undergraduate and graduate study. Understanding how many years it takes to become an orthodontist helps this process and is your chance to actively participate in training the next generation of orthodontists.
So how long does it take to become an orthodontist? This section covers everything a student needs to go through to become a full-fledged orthodontist.