I get asked this question fairly often. Mostly what people want to know is how long did I have to go school to be an orthodontist (10 years - 4 years at SMU for an undergraduate degree, 4 years at Baylor College of Dentistry to become a dentist and 2 years at St. Louis University to get my specialty training in orthodontics.) But I’ll tell you that these 10 years were not the hard part - they took a lot of time and a lot of hours studying, but for someone who liked school, this wasn’t “hard”.

For me, the hard part of being an orthodontist is a couple of things. 1) An orthodontist holds the responsibility for their patient’s orthodontic outcome. I have to give 100% every day, regardless of my own personal circumstances. Of course, patients have to do their parts as well, like wearing rubber bands, not breaking braces and such. However, the ultimate responsibility is in my hands and that responsibility is something that I must always take very seriously. 2) Sometimes my patients are having a bad day and really don’t want to be at the orthodontist office doing somethat that will make their teeth sore. Giving people grace and still getting work done can be tricky. 3) Managing a business is far different than straightening teeth. I love being an orthodontist and being my own boss, however there are times that running a business can be tough.

You may notice that the hard parts of being an orthodontist can also be some of the most rewarding parts of being an orthodontist. Getting to admire a beautiful smile on a face that once had a bunch of crooked teeth is something that brings me great joy. Having empathy with my patients and helping them to know that I’m on their side, even when it seems like the rest of the world is not, is a great priviledge. Providing employment and a good work environment to my staff is something that I’m so proud to be able to do.

But isn’t that how life goes? Things that come easy are not nearly as rewarding or memorable as those things that take a lot of effort. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be an orthodontist and to run Ellis Orthodontics - even if part of that opportunity is “hard”.