An orthodontist is a dentist who also attends a residency program after dental school. To become an orthodontist, you first must get a degree at a 4 year college. Then you attend dental school for 4 years. Finally, you complete a 2-3 year residency program specializing in orthodontics. You receive a certificate of orthodontics, and at some programs like the one Dr. Best went to at VCU, you also get a Master of Science degree. It’s a lot of school and a lot of work, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an orthodontist who doesn’t love their job!
Dr. Best attended Princeton University for her undergraduate degree. She went to the University of Florida for dental school, and then she finished up at Virginia Commonwealth University for her Certificate in Orthodontics and M.S.D. If you are interested in dentistry or orthodontics, let us know and you can shadow in our clinic! We love teaching others more about what we do.