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Learn MoreGeneral oral health dentists are the foundation of your dental business. Helping your patients deal with one oral problem or another will be the bulk of your operation. Still, hiring specialists is crucial to expanding your practice and generating new revenue streams.
The orthodontic field alone was worth $3.23 million in the U.S., demonstrating exceptional demand for these services. Hiring one can significantly benefit your practice.
Understanding the ins and outs of each specialty helps you make better business decisions. For those who want to become orthodontists, how many years does it take to complete the required education?
This article covers everything you need to know about schooling for an orthodontist, the number of years it takes to become one, and how you can support students to get into the business.
Young dentists who want to become orthodontists must have graduated from dental school, completed an orthodontics program, and finished a two to three-year residency.
The number of orthodontist schooling years is significant, even for an existing dentist wanting to transition into the specialty.
So, how long does it take to become an orthodontist? This section covers everything a student needs to go through to become a fully-fledged orthodontist.
Suppose you are supporting an orthodontist-in-training to grow your practice, or you’re looking to help one of your general oral health personnel to transition into the specialty. In that case, you need to know how to become an orthodontist and how long it takes for students to complete schooling.
So, how many years does it take to be an orthodontist in total?
Most orthodontists spend ten years from start to finish. Firstly, they must complete a four-year undergraduate degree before attending dental school for another four years.
Additionally, orthodontists must complete a two to three-year residency program.
All orthodontists must be certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Receiving this certification means completing a selection of written and practical tests. This certification allows an orthodontist to call themselves a Board Certified Orthodontist.
When hiring an orthodontist, you’ll need to check that any applicant possesses this certification to work for your practice legally.
Every state requires orthodontists to be licensed. All orthodontists have one to practice as a dentist and a separate orthodontist license.
All states require applicants to pass an exam, but exact requirements vary by state. You’ll need to check your state’s requirements to ensure you know the licensing laws before hiring an orthodontist for your practice.
Your practice can support the next generation of orthodontists. Now that you know the answer to “How long does it take to become an orthodontist?” you’re in a better position to support students in completing their education.
Remember, working with younger dentists enables you to hire some of the best talents and gain the value of a skilled professional on your team. Here’s how practice managers can help this process.
Orthodontists that have already graduated still need to find a job. Unfortunately, a lack of experience can stop them from getting their desired position.
Many orthodontists rely on starting in an assistant role to garner that invaluable experience. Offering an assistant position helps you fill your team at a lower salary because you’re providing them with expertise to help them become well-rounded professionals.
An internship allows orthodontics students to get a taste of what it’s like to work as an orthodontist within your practice. Approximately 70% of interns are hired by the same company they completed their internship with.
Gaining work experience and fulfilling the requirements of their orthodontics program through your company can open up a pool of talent for future hires.
Growing practices commonly believe they lack time to offer internships and assistant positions. Still, there is a range of advantages to be had for practice managers.
If you’re wondering whether supporting young orthodontists is worth your time, here are some benefits for your practice.
Smaller practices often require employees to wear many hats to keep up with the workload. Hiring an intern or bringing in an apprentice during a busy period can alleviate some burdens.
Allowing young orthodontists to take on light duties can make a massive difference to your team and enable them to spend more time on essential tasks.
Opening up an internship or apprenticeship position is a golden opportunity to train a potential full-time employee. You’re not just showing someone how to practice as an orthodontist. You’re showing them how your business operates.
With the high intern hiring rate, there’s a good chance that your efforts will result in a new hire.
As a bonus, hiring an intern or apprentice orthodontist streamlines the onboarding process because they already know how your business operates.
As a dental professional, you know that there are important steps for how to start a dental practice and keep it running efficiently. Understanding how many years it takes to become an orthodontist aids in this process and is your chance to take an active role in training the next generation of orthodontists. With real business benefits, even smaller dental practices stand to gain from supporting them.
Managing interns, apprentices, and dental personnel making the transition will impact your management processes significantly. Cloud 9’s cloud-based specialty dental practice management software is designed for busy practices that want to minimize workflow, improve staff efficiency, and boost productivity.
Providing a five-star patient experience starts at the top. Learn more about how Cloud 9 can help your practice grow by requesting a free demo today.