How to become an orthodontist: training, degrees and career

An orthodontist is a dentist who specialises in diagnosing and correcting misaligned teeth and jaw irregularities, and their work goes well beyond aesthetics. Proper alignment affects how you chew, how you speak and whether you're likely to develop complications like cavities or jaw pain further down the line.

They treat patients across all age groups. With children, the focus is often on guiding jaw development before growth plates close. With adults, the priority shifts to corrective treatment, managing more complex cases where bone structure is already fixed.

Orthodontists work with two main types of appliances. Fixed appliances, the most familiar being metal or ceramic braces, are bonded directly to the teeth and work continuously. Removable appliances, such as clear aligners or functional devices used in growing children, can be taken out for eating and oral hygiene. The choice between them depends on the type and severity of the case, not patient preference alone.

What does an orthodontist do?

An orthodontist is a dentist who specialises in diagnosing and correcting misaligned teeth and jaw irregularities, and their work goes well beyond aesthetics. Proper alignment affects how you chew, how you speak and whether you're likely to develop complications like cavities or jaw pain further down the line.

They treat patients across all age groups. With children, the focus is often on guiding jaw development before growth plates close. With adults, the priority shifts to corrective treatment, managing more complex cases where bone structure is already fixed.

Orthodontists work with two main types of appliances. Fixed appliances, the most familiar being metal or ceramic braces, are bonded directly to the teeth and work continuously. Removable appliances, such as clear aligners or functional devices used in growing children, can be taken out for eating and oral hygiene. The choice between them depends on the type and severity of the case, not patient preference alone.

What conditions does an orthodontist treat?

Orthodontists treat conditions related to bite, spacing and jaw position. Left uncorrected, these can contribute to tooth decay, gum disease and chronic jaw discomfort.

Common conditions include:

• Open bite: a gap between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed
• Crossbite: one or more lower teeth sit outside the upper teeth
• Deep bite: the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth more than normal
• Prognathism: the lower jaw sits further forward than it should
• Retrognathism: the lower jaw is set back, affecting both profile and bite function
• Diastema: noticeable gaps between teeth, most often between the front two
• Crowding: insufficient space in the jaw to accommodate all teeth correctly
• Asymmetry: the bite differs between the left and right sides

What courses do you need to take to be an orthodontist?

The starting point is a dentistry degree. This is where you build the scientific and clinical foundation that everything else rests on: oral biology, anatomy, pathology, radiology and hands-on patient care.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry in Malaga and the Bachelor's Degree in Dentistry in Valencia are strong examples of what this looks like in practice. From year one, students work in simulation environments replicating real scenarios, including routine consultations and emergencies. Both programmes cover:

• Preventive and restorative dentistry
• Oral diagnostics and radiology
• Community and public health dentistry
• Direct patient contact from the first year

Postgraduate specialisation in orthodontics

Once you've completed your degree, the next step is a master's in orthodontics. This is where the specialism takes shape. Core areas include:

• Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning
• Dentofacial orthopaedics
• Biomechanics of tooth movement
• Fixed braces systems and clear aligner techniques

Training is case-based and heavily practical. By the end, you're expected to manage complex cases independently. For a clearer picture of how orthodontics sits within the broader field, this article on the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist is worth a read.

How long does it take to become an orthodontist?

Becoming an orthodontist takes between six and seven years of university-level study. The path breaks down into two stages:

• Dentistry degree: 5 years, covering oral health, clinical practice and diagnostics
• Master in orthodontics: 1 to 2 years of specialist postgraduate training in corrective techniques and patient casework

Each stage builds directly on the last. The degree qualifies you as a general dentist; the master's is what allows you to take on orthodontic cases independently.

Orthodontics is a demanding specialism, but the route into it is well-defined. A dentistry degree builds the clinical foundation; a master's in orthodontics develops the precision and case-management skills the role demands.

The result is a career that combines technical complexity with lasting impact on patients' health and quality of life. Five years of dentistry training followed by one to two years of specialist study is a serious commitment, but one with a well-established career at the end of it.

FAQs

Is orthodontics a growing field?

Demand for orthodontic treatment has increased in recent years, driven largely by the rise of clear aligner technology, which has made treatment more accessible and appealing to adults who might have previously avoided it.

At what age can orthodontic treatment start?

Treatment can begin in childhood, often between seven and ten, when the jaw is still developing and certain corrections are easier to achieve.

How is an orthodontist's training different from a general dentist's? 

Both start with the same dentistry degree, but an orthodontist goes on to complete a postgraduate master's focused exclusively on bite correction, jaw development and tooth movement.

What is the difference between an orthodontist and an oral surgeon? 

An orthodontist corrects alignment and bite using appliances such as braces or aligners. An oral surgeon performs surgical procedures on the jaw, teeth and surrounding structures.