From Braces to Smiles: The Path to Becoming an Orthodontist.
Imagine a world where every smile tells a story, a story that begins with the journey of an aspiring orthodontist. From the packed high school hallways overflowing with potential to the halls of a university, where the transformation will first begin. Becoming an orthodontist is a long and challenging journey that takes many years of school, good grades, time, and most of all, dedication. Medschoolinsiders.com states, “In terms of competitiveness, orthodontics is known for being one of the most competitive dental specialties, with only around 55% of applicants matching into orthodontics each year.” Through this journey you won't just need academic excellence, you'll need to be able…show more content… An aspiring orthodontist should aim to have top grades. While in high school, it will help to take science and math courses like biology, chemistry, and algebra, which will give you a head start going into college. But taking these classes along with getting good grades doesn't come easy. Some challenges that you might face include balancing a rigorous course load with extracurriculars that colleges favor. A common mistake that I make is neglecting time management skills, which is crucial in order to maintain a high GPA and stay on track for a future career as an orthodontist. Now that you have your high school diploma, it's time to move onto a higher education. The next pivotal step in the journey to becoming an orthodontist is attending an undergraduate university. An undergraduate university, also known as college, is where students will pursue a bachelor's degree in their field of choice. This step is essential before advancing to dental school. Prospective orthodontists usually major in biology, chemistry, or another science to fulfill dental school prerequisites. Indeed.com also states, “Most aspiring orthodontists choose subject majors that prepare them for the next steps, such as biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.” Crucial courses that you…show more content… This step is where you will finally learn everything from how braces work to the nitty-gritty jaw growth. But the challenges are next level stuff. You will be juggling a ton of information, mastering new techniques, and dealing with patients who might not be thrilled about their braces. Some mistakes to avoid would be to not rush your work and always stay on top of the latest research. In order to get your orthodontic license, you've got to pass some more exams. This is the final boss of your journey. Then, you’ll get board certified, which is like the orthodontist’s stamp of approval. From there you can start your practice, join a group, or even go into academia if you feel scholarly. So as you travel through your own journey of life and get one step closer to orthodontics, you can look back and remember these tips. Remember this information as you graduate high school with a strong academic record, attend an undergraduate university to fulfill prerequisites, complete dental school, and finally enroll in an orthodontics residency program. Always remember that becoming an orthodontist is a long and challenging journey that takes many years of school, good grades, time, and most of all dedication. But in the
