Orthodontic therapist
Orthodontic therapists are a relatively new addition to the orthodontic team.
Their role is to work alongside a specialist orthodontist or dentist to perform routine orthodontic treatments. It’s now fairly common for NHS orthodontic treatment in particular to be carried out by orthodontic therapists under the supervision of a dentist or specialist. Trainee orthodontic therapists must undergo 45 weeks of full-time training – or the part-time equivalent – before they can qualify as fully-fledged orthodontic therapists. Orthodontic therapy is a popular choice of career progression among dental nurses, but dental hygienists, therapists and technicians are also eligible to apply for training.