Smiles for a Lifetime

Anna – future orthodontist

I would like to be an orthodontist because I want to help others with their smiles like my orthodontist has helped me. I was born missing a permanent front tooth and my bite was out of alignment. My orthodontist corrected my bite with a palatal expander I got to crank each day. Now I can chew better, clean my teeth easier, and smile better than ever before. Whenever I go to visit my orthodontist, I think in my head that could be me. I enjoy working with and helping people. I also enjoy working with my hands and fixing things. I even have my own set of tools. I especially enjoy my math and science classes in school. I have talked with my orthodontist and watched him work. I have also talked with my mom who is a dentist and watched her work.

To become an orthodontist, I would need to go to college and earn a bachelor's degree in a field of science that meets all of the prerequisites required for admission to dental school. I would need to attend four years of dental school to obtain my doctorate of dental surgery degree. Next, I would need to complete an orthodontic residency program which generally takes 27 months. I have done research at my school library and read books on different careers. I also completed interest surveys online and researched the careers that best match my interests. I was pleased to discover in my research that new opportunities for orthodontists are very likely in the future. This occupation is expected to grow much faster than average. There are many job opportunities available now even in my hometown. I look forward to continuing my education along with a life time of learning.