The crisis in orthodontic education: goals and perceptions

A crisis in orthodontic education exists today because of a shortage of qualified people seeking to pursue careers in academic orthodontics; 35% of orthodontic graduate programs in the United States report having at least 1 vacant faculty position. Previous studies have identified several factors that contribute to the current shortage. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare real and perceived differences in income, workload, and other qualitative characteristics between academic and private practice orthodontists. Orthodontic faculty, private practitioners, and residents were surveyed, and their answers were compared statistically. Faculty annual income was less than one half that of private practitioners matched by experience and geography. Faculty reported working an average of 25% more hours per week, and income per hour for full-time faculty was less than one third that of their private-practice colleagues. In addition, faculty perceived that they experienced more stress, encountered more bureaucracy, received less respect, and had a more difficult time achieving board certification than did private practitioners. Despite these findings, both faculty and private practitioners reported high levels of satisfaction in their respective jobs. Orthodontic residents were better attuned to the differences between academics and private practice than were faculty or private practitioners themselves. Residents perceived that it would take an average of 67% longer to pay off their educational debt in a faculty position than in private practice. It is in the best interest of orthodontics to resolve the crisis in education if it is to maintain its well-respected status among dental and medical specialties.