Education is the foundation—the bedrock—of any profession or any specialty in a profession. Dentistry and our specialty of orthodontics have prospered during the past 100 years because of (1) our education as professionals and (2) the public’s esteem and trust we have been privileged to enjoy.

Times are changing rapidly. Our bedrock—education—has entered some tumultuous times, and we must prepare ourselves and our practices for some huge changes. Education and our professional lives are symbiotic; each depends on the other. Many issues impact education and our specialty that cannot be resolved quickly or easily.

First, all orthodontists are dentists. The issues that impact dentistry will directly impact orthodontics. Quite probably, dentists, orthodontists, and other dental specialists—as well as the patients we treat—must drastically alter expectations while society works through problems and solutions emerge. The major issues are oversupply, undersupply, and maldistribution of dentists and orthodontists.

Fifteen new dental schools are planned, are under serious consideration, or have recently opened in the United States. These new schools will create many new dentists. Will there be a glut of dentists? If so, these general dentists may have to resort to attempting any and all dental specialty procedures to make a living. For example, in my little town in Tennessee, we have a general dentist who has a billboard that says, “See Dr X and get your teeth straightened in six months with cosmetic braces.” More and more general dentists will be forced to turn to orthodontics and other dental specialties.

Additionally, it is more than probable that some of these new dental schools will eventually want to have graduate orthodontic programs and other specialty programs. How will society absorb the graduates of these additional specialty programs? Where will these programs find capable and qualified educators?

The Commission on Dental Accreditation has approved many new graduate orthodontic programs over the past 15 years. The specialty is experiencing a tremendous increase in the numbers of orthodontists. In many cities and towns, there is an orthodontist on almost every street corner. Conversely, some areas seem to have few orthodontists. Patients who live in these areas must travel a considerable distance to receive orthodontic care. The bottom line is that tomorrow’s graduate might find it harder and harder to find a place to practice and make a living. The law of supply and demand will have to resolve the issues of oversupply, undersupply, and maldistribution.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation is the body that accredits dental education, dental specialty education, dental hygiene education, and so on. It does not legislate the number of dental schools or orthodontic graduate programs. Any dental school or dental graduate program can be accredited if it meets the accreditation standards. I have heard over and over that the commission needs to do something about this or that. The commission can do nothing about it. The law of supply and demand is the only answer.