U.S. and Canadian Orthodontic Faculty Professional Satisfaction: A Survey Study

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Orthodontics
• Faculty Development

Background:

• Orthodontic faculty are crucial for training future professionals.
• Understanding job satisfaction is key to improving faculty recruitment and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate job satisfaction among U.S. and Canadian orthodontic faculty.
• To identify factors influencing job satisfaction, including employment status, tenure, age, and training.

Main Methods:

• A survey was emailed to 645 orthodontic faculty members.
• 133 participants completed a 34-question survey on demographics and satisfaction.
• Data analyzed to correlate job satisfaction with various professional and institutional factors.

Main Results:

• Faculty time commitment, institutional rank, and tenure status significantly impacted satisfaction with clinical time, teaching value, and departmental leadership.
• Increased compensation, more teaching time, and reduced administrative duties were cited as key improvements.
• Faculty receiving teaching skills training reported 4.78 times higher satisfaction than those without.

Conclusions:

• Job satisfaction in orthodontic faculty is multifactorial, influenced by workload, institutional recognition, and professional development.
• Recommendations include reducing administrative burden, enhancing faculty development programs, and improving financial compensation.
• Addressing these factors can improve the recruitment and retention of orthodontic educators.