Hello Everyone! I have written a short step-by-step guide to becoming a craniofacial and special care orthodontist. Hope this helps if you are interested! Step 1: Go to college for 3-4 years While in college, you will have the freedom to study any major, as long as certain science courses are completed, and good grades are achieved. Most schools have similar requirements for their science courses, but it is important to check each schools’ criteria. Additionally, each school has a minimum requirement for shadowing hours to apply. Step 2: Take the DAT (Dental Admissions Test) The DAT is a 4.5-hour test that all students applying to dental school must take. It contains 6 different sections: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, and the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT). Step 3: Complete the dental school application and interview Typically started in June between junior and senior year of college if you intend to go straight from college. The important thing to remember is although they have deadlines, it is ideal to complete all the applications, including the secondary questions, by the end of July, early August. By completing the applications early, you will help give yourself the best chance of receiving interviews. In order to help you submit applications early, work on finalizing your personal statement and determine your letter of recommendation writers before June, when the application opens. Step 4: Attend a dental school for 4 years In your time in dental school, it is important to still maintain good grades and to enrich your learning as much as you can. Take advantage of several opportunities your school may provide, join clubs that you are interested in, participate in community service, do research, attend hospital and pediatric rotations, shadow orthodontists and programs you are interested in if you can. Participate in things you are interested in and will separate you as a future applicant. Step 5: Take [...]

Hello everyone! My name is Rachel Hoagburg and I am a third-year dental student at Penn Dental Medicine.  Along with Michael and a few others, I will be blogging for Philly Phaces! A little more about myself - I aspire to become an Orthodontist after dental school, in hopes to work alongside surgeons and other specialists to treat children undergoing surgeries for skeletal defects.  Before starting dental school, I had a love and passion for children and orthodontics and knew it was a path I may want to explore.  However, being a part of Philly Phaces has helped me realize my passion for the craniofacial aspect of orthodontics.  I hope to help people fall in love with their smile and gain confidence in themselves. I will be blogging on my experiences in dental school along with my path to becoming an orthodontist who specializes in craniofacial, surgical, and special care orthodontics. Beyond my own experiences in my journey, I will be blogging about what is happening with the Penn Dental Philly Phaces chapter! I look forward to blogging throughout the year and hope you enjoy the content! -Rachel