How to Become an Orthodontist in Ontario

Becoming an orthodontist in Ontario requires 10 years of post secondary education.

– 4 year Bachelor of Science

– 4 year Dentistry School

– 2 year Graduate School of Orthodontics

An aspiring orthodontist must first complete a four year Bachelor of Science degree ensuring that all pre-requisite courses for dental school are completed. Individual pre-requisite courses may vary by school but generally include the core sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, physiology, biochemistry and organic chemistry courses. Interested applicants are advised to check individual school websites for requirements as different schools may have different requirements.

After completion (or for some schools, while undertaking) a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree, an individual may sit for a DAT test (Dental Aptitude Test) administered by the Canadian Dental Association and apply to a School of Dentistry.

Upon admission into a School of Dentistry in Ontario, the student must successfully complete four years of further education which would enable them to become a practicing dentist.

In Ontario, getting acceptance into a School of Dentistry is very competitive. As a result, it’s not uncommon for students to go abroad to the US or UK to peruse their dentistry degrees.

Upon completion of a four year dentistry program, students can choose to apply to the Graduate School of Orthodontics in a Canadian school (ex: University of Western Ontario). This application process is highly selective and only the best candidates are given acceptance into the program which entails a final two years of education.

As you can see, Orthodontists go through many years of education in order to have the qualifications and skills required to treat patients.

List of Canadian Dentistry School for Prospective Students:

– Dalhousie University, Faculty of Dentistry

– McGill University, Faculty of Dentistry

– University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

– University of British Columbia, Faculty of Dentistry

– University of Manitoba, Faculty of Dentistry

– University of Saskatchewan, College of Dentistry

– University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry

– University of Western Ontario, School of Dentistry

– Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine dentaire

– Université Laval, Faculté de médecine dentaire