Evaluation of dental students’ preferences for specialization in orthodontics and factors influencing their choices

This study aims to evaluate the perspectives of students at a state university faculty of dentistry regarding orthodontics as a specialty and the factors influencing their career preferences. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted from 2025-2026 with 235 participants enrolled in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years of a state university faculty of dentistry in Türkiye. Data were collected via an online questionnaire querying demographic characteristics, specialty preferences, and perceptions of disadvantages/needs in orthodontics. Among the 235 participating students, 54.9% were female and 44.3% were male. No statistically significant difference was found in gender distribution across grade levels (p = .09). "Interest in the specialty" and "financial gain" emerged as the most important criteria in specialty selection; the distribution of these criteria varied significantly by gender (p = .004). While 3rd-year students identified "quotas and competition" as the primary disadvantage of orthodontics, 5th-year students who have more clinical experience defined "long-term patient follow-up and clinical responsibility" as the main disadvantage. More than 90% of the students agreed that there will be a societal need for the orthodontics branch in the future. In terms of branch preference, orthodontics ranked at the top along with oral and maxillofacial surgery. Students continue to view orthodontics as a prestigious field vital to public health. As clinical experience increases, students' perceptions of the branch shift toward a more realistic and responsibility-based structure. Increasing case-based clinical orientations in the curriculum may help students establish a healthier balance between theoretical expectations and clinical realities in their specialty preferences.