About 20-50 percent of the population in the world suffers from periodontal diseases. Gum disease is believed to affect 23% of Australians, and can have a significant impact on the quality of their lives.

A career in periodontics will allow you to lead an exciting and fast-paced lifestyle, while also making a positive impact on the lives of many people. The field of orthodontics is set to grow in sophistication and excitement as new and exciting treatments are developed.

Now is a great time to consider a career as an orthodontist. If you want to work in a periodontal practice like NS Periodontics, you should follow these steps.

Step 1: Obtain an undergraduate degree

You must first obtain a bachelor’s degree from a university before you can begin your dental training.

A Bachelor’s Degree usually lasts four years. It is here where you will develop the scientific concepts that are necessary to be successful in your future dental education.

While dental colleges will consider any major, you need to have upper division classes in maths and biology.

You should also be aware that academics alone will not guarantee you a spot in a dental program. Dental schools look for individuals with a variety of interests and who are also excellent academically.

You can develop your leadership skills by volunteering or joining clubs and societies at college.

You should also develop a meaningful relationship with your teachers. They can later vouch for you and provide letters of recommendation which can be extremely valuable when applying to dental schools.

Finalize, you should try to learn as much as possible about the dental profession while in college. The admissions committee will see that you are a passionate and dedicated individual who took the time to learn about dentistry during your college days.

You’ll need to pass the Dental Admission Test at the end of your college career before you can enroll in a dental program.

Step 2: Ace dental school

Wait until you start dental school. Dental school is a very competitive field, and many of your peers will struggle. Some may even drop out.

You must also remember that the better you perform in dental school, then the greater your chances are of getting a place in orthodontic training in the future.

The average dental school lasts four years and includes training in all areas of dentistry. The mix includes classroom lectures, laboratory work and patient care. During the final two years of dental school you will begin to interact with patients and treat different conditions.

You will gain a lot of periodontal experience and knowledge if you work with a practicing periodontist during dental school. Your chances to land a periodontal residencies will also increase.

It is important to maintain good grades.

Step 3: Complete 3 years of orthodontic residency

When you graduate dental school, you’re still not there. You can be a generalist dentist but you lack orthodontic expertise.

After dental school you will need to apply for an orthodontic residency. These are highly competitive and there are only a few spots available across the country.

When applying for a residency, letters of recommendation and volunteer experience are important. You need to convince the program directors you will be the best addition to their team this year, because there are only a few spots.

You have a better chance of being accepted if you can demonstrate more value in the form of clinical experience, academic records, and your work history.

Step 4: Obtain Board certification if it is available in your country

After completing your residency, you will be a periodontologist trained to treat any periodontal condition.

If your country allows it, you can also obtain a board certification in Periodontology.

A board certified periodontist, according to the American Board of Periodontology is “one that has achieved significant achievements above and beyond the educational requirements of their specialty” and is certified by the American Board of Periodontology.

You’ll need to pass a number of exams on periodontal disease and its treatment, and you’ll also have to present reports on different types of treatment. You’ll need to attend continuing education courses and renew your certification every six years once you become certified.

Board certification is an important credential because it not only shows that your periodontal knowledge and skills have been improved, but also that you are a committed doctor. It will show your patients that they’re in good hands.