Women’s History Month invites us to reflect on progress made, barriers broken, and all the leaders who paved the way.
But in orthodontics, the story isn’t just about history, it’s about a transformation happening right now.
Spend any time in an orthodontic residency program across Canada or the U.S., and you’ll feel the shift immediately. You can see it. The rooms look different, and the pipeline looks different, too.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), women now make up 39% of overall members. Among student members, that number rises to 58.5% women. In 2021, 51.6% of U.S. dental school graduates were women, and in orthodontics specifically, 55.9% were women. This trend is expected to continue as the next generation enters practice.
The statistics are telling. But what’s even more compelling is what they represent: a generation of doctors entering orthodontics with clear intentions about the kind of careers and lives, they want to build.
In the Rooms Where it’s Happening
We asked experts of our Doctor Attraction & Development team to break down what they’re seeing across programs in North America, and the picture that’s emerging is an increasingly diverse and dynamic next generation of orthodontists.
When Elizabeth (Liz) Misseri, Manager of Associate Doctor Recruitment, reflects on residency visits from six years ago (around the time Corus was founded), she remembers a noticeably different demographic.
At Western University’s orthodontic program in Ontario, Canada, nine residents are projected for 2026, with only one man. The University of Manitoba is showing similar trends, and we’re seeing the same pattern echoed across other educational institutions in both Canada and the U.S.
“Residency programs are noticeably more female now,” Liz says. “The industry is attracting more women, and we’re seeing that shift reflected not just in AAO stats, but in rooms we’re walking into. As practice models evolve and collaborative networks grow (like Corus), orthodontics is becoming an increasingly appealing path for doctors who look for both professional growth and long-term balance.”
But beyond representation, what stands out most is intentionality. The women entering orthodontics today aren’t just choosing a specialty, they’re designing a career and life that work together.
Why More Women Are Choosing Orthodontics
When we ask young residents why they chose orthodontics, the answers tend to fall into a few clear categories.
Here’s what comes up most often:
- The science + art balance
Orthodontics blends precision and creativity. You’re diagnosing, designing, and building a long-term result. No need to pick just one when you can have both! - The patient experience
Unlike some specialties, patients are excited to see you. You get to build relationships over multiple years and watch the transformation happen. - The structure
You have the flexibility and autonomy over your schedule, giving you the ability to build a lifestyle that fits for you.
For many women evaluating specialties, that 3-platter combination is compelling. It creates space for family planning, leadership, travel, entrepreneurship, or ownership without compromising clinical excellence.
Just take it from Dr. Tracey Hendler, Doctor-Partner at Forest Hill Orthodontics, who recently shared on the New Dentist Study Club podcast, that being part of a supportive network has allowed her to shape a version of success that works for both her career and her life as a mom.
And as Liz puts it:
“It’s one of the few specialties where you get to be highly technical and highly creative at the same time and still build a life around it.”
But when it comes down to graduating and actually beginning your career, the questions begin to evolve. For many women entering orthodontics, the question isn’t just, where will I work? It’s how will this fit into the future I’m designing?
Building a Model That Meets the Moment
According to Liz’s expertise, “Location remains the number one driver. Community matters. Lifestyle matters. But so does support, especially in the transition from residency to private practice, where patient volumes increase and decisions move faster.”
Support looks different for everyone, and we’re seeing more residents ask detailed questions about onboarding, clinical mentorship, what support looks like in those critical first six months, maternity leave, leadership pathways, ownership… you name it.
But what remains consistent underneath it all is a desire for alignment and community. It’s all about a workplace that supports their priorities, not the other way around.
That’s where Corus has built something refreshingly different – a network designed to support the next generation of orthodontists as they transition from residency to confident clinical leadership.
The Support You’ve Been Looking For
As a network, we recognize that balance is not a one-size-fits-all. For some, it’s ownership and growth. For others, it’s flexibility when entering a new chapter of life. And often, it’s deep clinical mentorship and time to build confidence before taking on more responsibility.
Nothing in our Corus model is so standardized that it doesn’t leave space for individuality.
Our model was built to be flexible, with mentorship at its core and a strong community behind it. We don’t expect doctors to fit into a rigid framework. Instead, we start by understanding each doctor’s goals – clinically, professionally, and personally, and align a development pathway that supports their growth within our model.
Hearing it Firsthand
For Dr. Amanda Sigouin, Corus Doctor-Partner at Shoreline Orthodontics, balance as a new mom and practice owner isn’t about doing everything independently. It’s about leaning on the right people, whether that be supportive orthodontic partners, a strong team, a collaborative network, and an encouraging husband. Surrounding herself with a strong community allows her to be fully present both at work and at home.
Her advice to young women in the field reflects what we hear often: “Choose a network that genuinely supports and uplifts you, because you don’t have to build your career alone.”
For Dr. Allison Nicholls, Corus Doctor-Partner at Stratford Orthodontics, the idea of women supporting women isn’t just a concept, it’s been part of her own career journey. She credits Danielle Provost, Corus’ Director of Talent at, as one of the people who supported her most along the way, from her early Associate Doctor days in Thunder Bay and Peterborough, Ontario, to becoming a partner in Stratford Orthodontics. Their connection began while Allison was still in school, a full-circle moment that now reflects the kind of mentorship and support that exists across the Corus network.
According to Dr. Ziana Esmail, Associate Doctor at Surrideo Orthodontics, the profession itself feels different today. There are more women in leadership and ownership roles. There’s a growing culture of collaboration, with women lifting one another up and sharing knowledge.
“It’s inspiring to see how supportive the community has become,” she says. “Being surrounded by people who are willing to share their experiences makes the transition from residency to practice feel far less overwhelming.” – Dr. Ziana Esmail
And that belief in shared experience is something we actively create space for. Bringing our Associate Doctors together for intentional learning, open dialogue, and meaningful connection that fosters growth, builds confidence, and helps shape the future of orthodontics
A Cultural Shift
At Corus, that community piece is at our core. We live our values every day, with people at the center.
Our programming, mentorship pathways, and leadership development opportunities are designed to support doctors in doing their best work, while also supporting them in balancing the other pieces of their lives outside of the clinic.
Because the reality is, more women are entering orthodontics, and they’re entering the field with clarity on what they want.
Women’s History Month gives us the opportunity to acknowledge how far the profession has come. But what we’re witnessing isn’t just progress in numbers, it’s a cultural shift, and orthodontics is stronger because of it.
Whether you’re in residency or early in your associate journey, finding the right support system matters. Let’s talk about what that could look like for you.
Drop us a line.
