A reassessment of orthodontic residents' demographics, educational experiences, and future goals

This study reassessed orthodontic residents' demographics, educational experiences, and future goals for comparison with previously reported results.

An anonymous survey was distributed via e-mail to orthodontic residents in American and Canadian programs according to the Institutional Review Board-approved protocols. Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher exact tests compared responses from females vs males and those with ≤$300,000 vs >$300,000 total educational debt, with P <0.05 considered statistically significant. The current results were compared with previously published data to identify the changes over time.

Of 270 respondents, 61% vs 39% were female vs male. Additionally, 39% vs 61% reported total educational debt of ≤$300,000 vs >$300,000. Respondents were aged 29 ± 3 years; most were single (66%) and without children (88%). Female vs male respondents showed significant differences in age (female < male), marital status (single: female > male vs married: female < male), number of children (female < male), the importance of program costs (female < male), and a diverse or inclusive environment (female > male), and plans to purchase and start a practice (female < male). Those with ≤$300,000 vs >$300,000 total educational debt showed significantly lesser importance for program costs, more support from family and less from financial aid, and lesser anxiety and influence on where to work because of debt. Survey results between 2003 and 2024 showed an increase in female respondents from 38% to 61% and median total educational debt from $101,000-$150,000 to $301,000-$400,000.

Sex and level of estimated educational debt had significant effects on responses to some 2024 survey questions. Despite high satisfaction with residency programs, further increases in tuition, educational debt, and anxiety regarding educational debt suggest the need for improved financial literacy amongst orthodontic residents.