Orthodontic Residency Program

This is a two-year training program accredited by the American Dental Association. The program provides residents with extensive exposure to all aspects of orthodontic care from diagnosis through treatment. The volume and variety of training opportunities provide excellent preparation for a successful career in orthodontic clinical practice.

During the course of the residency, trainees actively participate in the care and management of children and adults with malocclusions and other dentofacial irregularities. The breadth of training includes experience in interceptive and fixed orthodontics, management of craniofacial deformities in medically compromised and developmentally disabled patients, and exposure to temporomandibular disorders.

The 24-month orthodontic residency curriculum focuses on developing strong diagnostic skills, with an emphasis on goal-oriented diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as clinical expertise in all aspects of orthodontic care. The program also ensures that residents are properly trained in the use of current technologies, including self-ligation, Invisalign^®, temporary anchorage devices, soft tissue laser, cone beam CT technology and 3D printing capability.

Residents gain teaching experience by working didactically and clinically with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, as well as the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at Children's National Medical Center. Orthodontic residents are required to have access to a personal computer with word processing and graphics capabilities. Microsoft Office Suite will be provided.

Upon successful completion of the training program, residents are eligible to take the American Board of Orthodontics examination for certification.

The clinical training is complemented by a comprehensive didactic curriculum. Regularly scheduled lectures cover topics in growth and development, biomechanics, occlusion, biostatistics, research methodology, treatment planning, temporomandibular disorders, interceptive treatment, adult treatment, dentofacial orthopedics, orthognathic surgery, oral pathology, interdisciplinary care, airway, sleep disorders, and craniofacial anomalies. Residents also actively participate in a journal club and literature review, to keep abreast of the latest advances in orthodontic practices.

Residents are encouraged to attend national and regional conferences, and continuing education programs. These events introduce residents to different philosophies and methods of treatment, as well as current research and advances in the profession.  

The opportunity to conduct research is an integral component of the training program. Residents are allocated adequate time to pursue their research interests. Faculty mentors are available to guide these endeavors.

Residents are required to complete research of publishable quality. Residents prepare a written paper and present their research to the departmental faculty. They are encouraged to submit their work for presentation at local and national meetings. The Office of Graduate Medical Education offers funding to support the presentation of research at conferences or meetings.