In this beginner’s guide article we are going to break down the field, see what the course can include, who it is designed for and we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the field.
What is Orthodontic Training?
According to the Wikipedia definition, Orthodontics is “a dentistry speciality that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns”. Specialised orthodontic training provides the knowledge needed to correct misaligned teeth and jaws, create a healthy bite, develop proper alignment and improve a client’s smile.
It is a requirement for those who wish to expand their clinical experience and to work in the field of orthodontics. Unlike other specialisations, an orthodontic course focuses on facial growth, biomechanics, and appliance therapy, with the aim or preparing post-graduate students for complex cases.
What Does an Orthodontic Course Include?
The specific modules of any orthodontic course vary depending on the institution, but they are typically constructed around the following subjects:
- Orthodontic Assessment and Diagnosis: principles and fundamentals: This is usually the starting point of any orthodontic course. By establishing early on the basics of the field, pupils get a correct and sound understanding of the processes that follow. This section can include lessons on clinical research, cephalometry, clinical photography, cranofacial growth, record-taking, treatment-planning and bone biology.
- Treatment Planning and Clinical Skills: This section usually targets the successful delivery of orthodontic treatments. Under this chapter, the contents of the lesson can vary from the foundation of treatment planning to the usage of fixed appliances.
- Orthodontic Appliances: By the third chapter, most courses will start focusing on the use of appliances. These include the common ones, such as removable and functional appliances and clear aligners (some courses can split complex topics such as this one into multiple parts). The module can also focus on the final stages of the treatment, with lessons on detailing, finishing and retention.
- Advanced Skills: usually by the time a student has reached the fourth chapter, he had already been exposed to the pre, during and post stages of the process, which is why starting this chapter, most courses focus on the advancement of the acquired skills and the introduction of new, specific and complex ones. Aspects that are typically addressed in this chapter include the art of digital orthodontics, the principles of TADs (temporary anchorage devices), including studies on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and mentions on the study and treatment of malocclusions.
- Dentofacial orthopaedics: there comes a session in every course in which specific case-studies are observed in order to analyse the particularities that can be encountered during one’s practice. The lessons include studies on your patients, aimed at prevention and early treatment, they include adult treatment to showcase the challenges and intricacies posed by adult structures and include an emphasis on biomechanics.
- Advanced treatment and processes: most courses will spread their contents over a varied number of chapters, subchapters, lessons or modules, but each of them will typically end with a final unit providing an in-depth exploration of advanced orthodontic techniques, surgical considerations, and practice management. This last module can also include topics that are not directly related to the field of orthodontics, but which are essential for one’s practice, such as surgical considerations, facial aesthetics and the marketing of dentistry.
Who is This Course for?
An orthodontic course is designed for professionals who want to specialise in the field of orthodontics. Orthodontic training provides all the information that is needed by a professional to practice in the field. General dentistry courses and accreditations might include information on this topic, but the amount presented in general courses does not suffice to grant professionalism and excellence.
The same goes for professionals who work in the field and have their own practice. A general dentist might be able to assist in some common and regular cases, with basic alignment treatment, for example, but there are certain practices that only a qualified orthodontist can perform.
If you identify with any of the cases below, then an orthodontic training might be the next professional step for you:
- A dental school graduate
- A licensed general dentist
- A dental professional seeking specialisation in a field
Commonly Asked Questions:
- How long does it take to complete orthodontic training? Depending on the institution that provides you with the course, the terms can vary, but typically, you can expect anywhere from 12 to 14 months of study
- Is an online orthodontic training course legit? Yes, an accredited course is a legitimate course, regardless of the form in which it’s done. As long as the institution providing the course is accredited and licensed, you can safely take an all-online course. This option comes with several benefits, such as unlimited access to courses from anywhere, the possibility to balance work life and study life, it is time and cost-effective and it eliminates the need for physical presence.
- Do these courses offer a diploma? Most of the courses offer a diploma at the end of completion, but you should always double-check with your institution to make sure.
Conclusion
If you’re a graduate student, a dentistry practitioner or an orthodontist looking to expand your knowledge, then you should consider an orthodontic course in order to develop new skills and advance your practice. Online courses can be as effective as offline ones and the only thing you have to make sure of is that the institution of your choice is accredited and that they offer a diploma upon completion.
