I'm not judging orthodontists, I'm seeing if it's a specialty I can go into.

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

If you are considering orthodontics as a career path, the Coptic Orthodox perspective would encourage you to examine your intentions and your stewardship. Choosing a profession because it provides stability and a high income is not inherently sinful, provided it is balanced with the correct spiritual priorities.

Here are the criteria a Coptic Christian should use when evaluating such a specialty:

1. The Principle of Service

In the Coptic Church, every Christian is called to a life of service. Even in a secular job, you are a representative of Jesus Christ.

• The Question: Are you going into this field because you genuinely want to help people and have a talent for the precision it requires, or is it purely for the ease of life it provides?
• The Perspective: St. Basil the Great taught that the medical arts (which include dental specialties) should be used to "remind us of the healing of the soul." If you enter this field, you must view your patients as icons of God, not just as a source of income.

2. Guarding Against Sloth and Greed

You mentioned it seems "easy" and "overpaid." From a spiritual standpoint, these are two areas where you must be careful:

• Against Sloth: If you choose a path specifically because you want to avoid hard work (sloth), you may stifle your spiritual growth. However, if "easy" means a manageable schedule that allows you to serve the Church, spend time with your family, and pray the Agpeya, then it is a blessing. A balanced life is a cornerstone of Coptic living.
• Against Greed: As a specialist, you will likely earn a high income. The Church is very straightforward: wealth is a heavy responsibility. You must be prepared to give generously to the poor and the Church. If you seek a high salary to live a life of luxury and excess, you are following the way of the world rather than the way of the Cross.

3. Professional Integrity

The Coptic tradition places a high value on honesty. In high-paying specialties, the temptation can be to recommend unnecessary treatments for profit. As a Coptic professional, you would be expected to maintain the highest level of integrity, never exploiting a patient’s lack of knowledge for financial gain.

4. Directing your "Rest" toward God

If a profession offers a better "quality of life," a Coptic Christian uses that extra time and energy for spiritual pursuits.

• Will this career allow you to attend Midweek Liturgies?
• Will you have the energy to serve in a Hymns School or in the personal care of the needy?

Summary Recommendation:

If you have the aptitude for it, orthodontics is a noble way to provide for a family and support the work of God. The Church does not demand that you choose the hardest or lowest-paying job. However, you must enter it with the heart of a servant.

Before making a final decision, I recommend:

1. Praying the Liturgy of St. Basil and asking for discernment.
2. Consulting your Father of Confession, as he can help you determine if your desire for an "easy" path is coming from a place of wisdom or a place of spiritual laziness.
3. Seeking to honor God in your studies. As a student, your "labor" is your sacrifice to Him.