How do you become an orthodontic therapist?

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Chrystal Sharp shares everything you need to know about becoming an orthodontic therapist, including training pathways, entry requirements and desired experience.

So, you want to be an orthodontic therapist?

Becoming an orthodontic therapist is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling career option. It provides a varied day allowing for a collaborative and pivotal role in not only creating a patient’s smile and building confidence in every client you meet, but also providing a service that truly matters.

Embarking on this journey takes dedication in the specialist dental field of orthodontics. As a niche role, it is therefore very competitive with usually around 12 spaces available per training course each year.

Training pathways

At present, there are around nine schools within the UK providing a course in orthodontic therapy, two of which deliver this course through an integrated level 4 apprenticeship scheme with the duration being 12-13 months depending upon the course provider chosen.

There are two important factors to consider prior to applying. Firstly, what is the cost associated for the course and how is this going to be funded?

The course currently costs between £12.5k to £13.5k depending on whether you work within the NHS or if it will be self-funded. With each training centre being different, I would recommend exploring and discussing this option with the specialist mentor that will be your trainer ahead of applying, so you can be fully aware of the financial and contractual commitments that you will be entering into along with the short term impact this may have.

The second consideration is the investment of your personal time and what this would look like, along with the additional assistance you may require in allocating and managing this time.

Orthodontic therapist entry requirements

Currently, there are various pathways to gain entry onto an orthodontic therapy course, whether this be through a higher level apprenticeship scheme which is relatively new, self-funded or an NHS partial-funded course, all taught within a dental school or training centre with the goal of achieving a diploma in orthodontic therapy at the end.

Presently, the entry requirements allow for qualified dental care professionals (DCPs) such as qualified dental nurses, hygienists, dental therapists or even dental technicians who possess relevant clinical experience to apply and be considered for a place. Each centre differs slightly and it’s important to check those entry requirements ahead of applying so you can be sure you have the best chance of securing a place.

Due to the course’s competitive intake, you need to stand out. You can do this by undertaking additional desirable courses ahead of applying, such as the orthodontic nursing qualification, oral health education qualification and dental radiography qualification. You can access these courses through the NEBDN (National Examining Board for dental Nurses) or dental nurse network, among other registered dental nursing centres.

Standing out will derive from your personal orthodontic experience (with most schools wanting a minimum of two years orthodontic experience within a specialist orthodontic clinic). The more orthodontic experience you possess, the better your chance in not only securing that spot on the course, but in passing and qualifying.

Are you suited to being an orthodontic therapist?

I strongly believe that this role is most suited to an ambitious orthodontic dental nurse wishing to progress their career within the orthodontic sector. They possess invaluable chairside exposure to orthodontic treatments and the technology utilised, such as digital scanning.

Therefore, they will most likely be, or in my opinion should be, carrying out orthodontic records under the prescription/supervision of an orthodontist, such as intra/extra oral photographs, digital scans and radiographs (if they have the radiography qualification).

This will have instilled excellent patient communication skills, clinical confidence, team leadership, time management and diary management skills – all qualities that will have effectively prepared them for becoming an orthodontic therapist.

Necessary experience

Ahead of applying, I would look at your current orthodontic experience and then make arrangements to achieve exposure to systems that you may not have assisted for or that your clinic may not offer, but will be a fundamental part of your training within the therapy course. This could include functional appliances or even headgear.

If the clinic you work within does not utilise these appliances, your potential trainer could also provide a lunch and learn on this topic to prepare you along with being committed to self-learning alongside this.

Another potential option could be to organise a work experience day at an orthodontic clinic that does offer these appliances because, ultimately for removable appliances such as functional appliances, you will ideally need exposure to these as part of your clinical training, so it’s best to plan for this ahead by discussing how this could be viable.

Desirable traits and skills

When considering becoming an orthodontic therapist, it’s important to understand that the role is not only practical-related, but also involves encompassing strong interpersonal skills.

So, what are personality traits or interpersonal skills should you embody to be an orthodontic therapist?

Communication: discussing thoughts, options and instructions both clearly and respectfully through varying formats such as written, verbal and visual are going to be required on a daily basis for each and every patient you see
Active listening: this means giving your full attention to what is being said, whether that be from a colleague or a patient. You need to fully listen in order to respond effectively, especially when consent is required
Kindness and compassion: this involves responding in a non-judgemental and non-reactive manner and understanding that each and every patient that sees you may experience some level of dental trauma, anxiety or lack of confidence. Embodying empathy will allow your rapport to become stronger with your patients within orthodontics. You see your patients regularly for 12 months or even more, so gaining that rapport will not only increase your satisfaction in providing the service but increase the patient’s enjoyment of the experience along with the compliance
Teamwork and leadership: remember that orthodontic treatment is a collaborative effort in the dental team relying upon multiple team members in achieving the desired outcome for the patient. Leading a team means instilling accountability and being able to problem solve, finding solutions when challenges arise
Reliability and integrity: being dependable and acting in a trustworthy, ethical way and putting patients interests first
Self-awareness: understanding one’s own emotions and behaviour, and the impact this may have on others or a situation
Organisation and time management: prompt running of your appointments and managing of your diary will come from clinical autonomy of your diary
High level of attention to detail: striving to provide the best service and treatment for each patient you see with the ambition and willingness to improve. You should also understand that qualifying is not the end of the journey, but is in fact the beginning, and you will have so much to continue to learn with skills that are always developing. Be invested and committed to attending additional courses.

Sending the application

Once you’re sure this is the career path for you, knowing you embody those qualities that are going to make you a successful orthodontic therapist, that you have the relevant qualifications, and the best orthodontic experience and maybe some extra desirable qualifications, it’s time to apply.

My top tip is to make sure that you read each application form thoroughly as they will all differ, with most wanting a personal statement – this is your time to shine and showcase your knowledge within orthodontics, including why you know the role of an orthodontic therapist is for you.

You should also draw on those interpersonal skills, demonstrating examples of working within a team with effective communication and setting priorities, showing you are the right candidate to embark on this course.