Characteristics of an excellent orthodontic residency program

Area of Science:

• Dental Specialties
• Orthodontics
• Medical Education

Background:

• While subjective factors like faculty passion are important, objective criteria define excellent orthodontic residency programs.
• Identifying these determinable features is crucial for program evaluation and improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define the key quantifiable features of a top-tier orthodontic residency program in the United States.

Main Methods:

• A validated 32-item survey was developed assessing faculty, education, and resident/alumni domains.
• The survey was distributed to 62 orthodontic residency programs across the United States.

Main Results:

• Key findings from 39 responding programs include specific faculty-to-resident ratios, American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification rates, and resident case exposure.
• Ideal program metrics include adequate full-time faculty, high ABO-certified faculty (80%), and specific resident case start numbers (70 per resident).
• Successful resident outcomes include 100% ABO written exam completion, 60% ABO certification within 5 years, and 50% alumni financial contribution.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a consensus on ideal features for excellent orthodontic residency programs based on educator feedback.
• These identified features offer a benchmark for program quality and curriculum development in orthodontic education.