Orthodontists are highly specialized doctors
After college and dental school, orthodontists attend a specialized 2-3 year residency programs.
During these prestigious residency programs the orthodontist receives intensive instruction to learn proper, safe tooth movement (orthodontics) and the guidance of dental, jaw and facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). These intensive extra years of schooling make the orthodontist the dental specialist in moving teeth and aligning jaws. All orthodontists are dentists, but only 6% of dentists are also orthodontists.
