Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after graduating from dental school, go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That training requires at least two to three academic years-sometimes more. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the only educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.

Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (irregularities in jaw and teeth position) on a routine basis and limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).