Craniofacial & Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship

Competitiveness Score: HIGH

A post-residency, CODA‑accredited program providing advanced training in the orthodontic management of craniofacial anomalies (e.g., cleft lip/palate, syndromic conditions) and medically complex patients within multidisciplinary teams.

12
Years Duration
$0–$6K (usually stipend-supported)
Avg. Annual Tuition
$72K–$75K
Avg. Starting Salary
2–4:1
Applicant to Seat Ratio
3.5+
Typical GPA

Specialty Overview

Scope & Practice

Fellows treat complex craniofacial and special‑needs orthodontic cases, participate in interdisciplinary surgical and restorative planning, and manage pre‑surgical orthopedics and post‑surgical orthodontics.

Common Procedures:

  • Cleft lip/palate infant orthopedics (incl. NAM)
  • Syndromic craniofacial orthodontics
  • Orthognathic surgical preparation
  • Distraction osteogenesis appliances
  • Craniofacial team case conferences
  • 3D imaging (CBCT) treatment planning
  • Fabrication and application of surgical splints

Professional Roles

Craniofacial & Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship specialists can pursue various career paths within the specialty, often combining multiple roles:

  • Hospital‑based Craniofacial Team Orthodontist: Work within multidisciplinary teams in children’s hospitals.
  • Academic/Research: Engage in clinical research and teaching in university centers.
  • Special Needs Orthodontist: Provide care for medically complex or syndromic patients.

Clinical Settings

Craniofacial & Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship specialists practice in diverse environments:

  • Children’s hospital craniofacial centers
  • University dental/medical hospital affiliates
  • Interdisciplinary craniofacial surgery clinics

Specialty Outlook

The craniofacial & special care orthodontics fellowship profession continues to evolve with technological advances and shifting demographics:

  • Increasing integration of 3D planning and digital workflows
  • High demand in regional craniofacial centers
  • Rising emphasis on multidisciplinary patient outcomes

Digital Innovation

Craniofacial & Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship is increasingly driven by cutting-edge digital technologies transforming patient care:

  • Cone-beam 3D imaging in treatment planning
  • CAD/CAM surgical splints
  • Digital simulation for presurgical orthopedics

Patient Experience

Modern craniofacial & special care orthodontics fellowship emphasizes patient comfort and convenience through various approaches:

  • Comprehensive, team-based care over long-term follow-up
  • Exposure to high-complexity cases from infancy to adulthood

Student Journey Roadmap

Stage 1

Complete Orthodontic Residency

Earn DDS/DMD and CODA‑accredited orthodontic certificate
Excel in craniofacial-related cases during residency
Publish or present orthodontic research
Stage 2

Apply to Fellowship

Prepare PASS (if required) or direct hospital application
Secure 2–3 strong LORs from orthodontic/craniofacial faculty
Send CV, transcripts, research summaries, license documentation

Geographic Program Map

Competitiveness Level

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High
Medium
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Top 5 Most Competitive States

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About This Map

This map displays the competitiveness level for craniofacial & special care orthodontics fellowship residency programs across the United States. The competitiveness is determined by factors including:

  • Number of accredited programs in the state
  • Total available seats
  • craniofacial & special care orthodontics fellowship specialist density per 100,000 residents
  • Patient volume

Click on any state to view detailed information about its craniofacial & special care orthodontics fellowship programs and competitiveness factors.

Application Requirements

Academic Prerequisites

  • Degree Required: DDS/DMD + CODA‑accredited orthodontic certificate
  • Minimum GPA: 3.3
  • Average Accepted GPA: 3.5+
  • Core Courses: Orthodontics, craniofacial growth/development
  • Research Experience: At least 1 clinical/research presentation

Standardized Tests

  • NBDE: NBDE I & II or INBDE (passed)
  • TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international applicants

Letters of Recommendation

  • Number Required: 2–3
  • Types:
  • • Orthodontic residency director
  • • Craniofacial faculty or team surgeon
  • • Research mentor
  • Emphasis: Clinical team competency and research potential

Research Experience

  • Participation in orthodontic/craniofacial research
  • Presentation of cases or papers preferred

Clinical Experience

  • Cleft/craniofacial patient management
  • Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Exposure to orthognathic/distraction osteogenesis cases

Application Components

  • PASS application or direct hospital fellowship forms
  • Transcripts and licensure verification
  • CV, personal statement
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Proof of orthodontic certification

Competitive Profile

  • Target GPA: 3.5+
  • Target GRE Verbal:
  • Target GRE Quantitative:
  • Research Publications: 1+ preferred
  • Shadowing Hours:
  • Extracurriculars: Teamwork in craniofacial settings

Application Deadlines & Timeline

2025 Application Cycle
May
May–June

Application Opens

PASS or hospital fellowship applications typically open

September
Sept 1–15

Application Deadline

Most fellowships close early to mid-September

January
Jan–Feb

Second Cycle Deadline

Some programs (Case, Cleveland) accept Jan starts

Set Reminders

Get notified about upcoming deadlines

Download Timeline

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Competitiveness Overview

Understanding the competitive landscape for this specialty

Competitiveness Level: HIGH
This specialty is highly competitive. Focus on building a strong application with research experience and clinical exposure.

Applicant to Seat Ratio

2–4:1

Average GPA

3.5+

Program Duration

12

Average Tuition

$0–$6K (usually stipend-supported)

Starting Salary

$72K–$75K

Tips for Success

  • Solid Academics: Maintain a GPA of 3.5+ and good DAT scores
  • Research Involvement: Participate in research activities
  • Clinical Experience: Shadow specialists in the field
  • Extracurriculars: Be involved in dental organizations
  • Strong Application: Write compelling personal statements

Curriculum & Training

Program Structure

Duration

12 months

Weekly Schedule

Full‑time clinical + didactic + research

Research Requirements

One clinical project with expectation of publication/presentation

Degrees Awarded

  • Certificate

Clinical Training

  • Infant presurgical orthopedics
  • Comprehensive orthodontics for cleft / syndromic cases
  • Surgical splint fabrication/planning
  • Orthognathic post‑surgical orthodontics
  • Distraction osteogenesis adjunctive treatment

Didactic Education

  • Weekly craniofacial grand rounds
  • Case conferences with surgery, ENT, genetics, speech
  • Literature seminars on craniofacial topics
  • Imaging and biomechanics workshops

Research Activities

  • Clinical treatment outcome studies
  • Case series or cohort analysis
  • Encouragement to present at national meetings

Financial Information

Total Program Cost

$0 (stipend‑based)
$0–$6,000 tuition
Stipend model stable

Programs with Stipends

100%
$72,000–$75,000/year
Similar to PGY‑4 orthodontic level

Living Expenses

$70,000+
Varies by city (e.g., LA, NY, Cleveland)
+5% YoY

Starting Salary

$72,000+
$70,000–$76,000
PGY‑4 baseline stipend

Culture & Lifestyle

Work-Life Balance

Challenging

High-intensity, full-time 1‑year program with limited vacation (3–4 weeks)

Career Satisfaction

Very High

High satisfaction due to advanced referral and team‑based care

Practice Environment

Excellent

Structured hospital and academic team settings

Physical Demands

Moderate

Moderate – involves lab/splint fabrication and clinical time

Day-in-the-Life

8:00 AM

Team Case Conference

Discuss morning surgical and orthodontic cases with craniofacial team

9:00 AM

Clinical Session

Patient exams, appliance activation, infant molding

12:00 PM

Lunch & Didactic Lecture

Craniofacial grand rounds or journal seminar

1:00 PM

Lab / Splint Fabrication

CAD/CAM or model‑based surgical splint prep

3:00 PM

Research & Documentation

Clinical data collection or research write‑up

5:00 PM

Wrap‑up

Review patient plans, update logs

Career Perspective

Fellow Perspective

“This fellowship immersed me in surgical planning, 3D splint design, and team‑based case conferences weekly.”

“Weekly grand rounds with surgeons, speech, genetics was invaluable.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the fellowship?

All accredited craniofacial orthodontic fellowships are 12 months in duration.

Is there a stipend?

Yes, fellows receive a PGY‑4 level stipend (about $72K–$75K); tuition is minimal or none.

How competitive is it?

Typically 3–4 applicants per position; overall match rate around 40–50%.