How to become an orthodontist: path, timeline, and pay
Orthodontics is one of the highest-paid and most competitive dental specialties. The path runs through dental school and a selective residency — here's every step, the timeline, and where the pay premium comes from.
Orthodontists straighten teeth and correct bite and jaw alignment — and the specialty consistently sits at or near the top of dental pay. Getting there means finishing dental school and then winning a spot in a competitive residency. Here's the full route.
Step 1–3: Become a dentist first
Orthodontics is a post-dental specialty, so you start on the general path: about four years of undergraduate study with the pre-dental prerequisites, the DAT, and four years of dental school for a DDS or DMD. The complete walkthrough is in how to become a dentist. Because orthodontics residencies are selective, your performance in dental school matters more here than for general practice — class standing, board scores, and research all help.
Step 4: Orthodontics residency (2–3 years)
After the DDS/DMD you apply to an accredited orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics residency — typically two to three years of focused training in tooth movement, appliances, and craniofacial growth. Admission is competitive; there are far more applicants than seats. On completing it, you're an orthodontic specialist.
Why the pay is high
Three things stack: strong, steady demand (orthodontic treatment is elective but perennially popular), efficient and repeatable workflows, and the scarcity that specialty training creates. Together they push orthodontist pay well above the general-dentist median of about $170,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025). See the verified figure and full range on the orthodontist salary page, how it compares to the other top specialty in oral surgeon vs. orthodontist, and the broader picture in the highest-paying dental specialties.
Is it worth it?
Orthodontics rewards people who like precise, plan-driven treatment and long patient relationships. The pay is excellent, but it's earned through two to three extra years of competitive training on top of dental school. As with any specialty, the durable advice is to choose the work you'd want regardless of pay — and let the verified numbers confirm it. Weigh the ownership dimension too, in associate, partner, or owner pay.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does it take to become an orthodontist?
Usually 10–11 years after high school: about four years of undergrad, four years of dental school for a DDS or DMD, then a two-to-three-year accredited orthodontics residency. Orthodontics residencies are among the most competitive in dentistry, so strong dental-school performance is essential.
Do you have to be a dentist first to become an orthodontist?
Yes. Orthodontics is a specialty you enter after completing dental school and earning a DDS or DMD. You then apply to an accredited orthodontics residency; there's no shortcut that skips general dental training.
Why do orthodontists earn so much?
Orthodontics combines high, steady demand with efficient, repeatable treatment and additional specialty training, which supports pay well above the general-dentist median of about $170,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025). It's consistently among the highest-paid dental specialties — see the verified figure on the orthodontist salary page.
Last updated