I’m in the dental profession and I honestly can’t say that I recommend becoming an orthodontist. Dentistry has become extremely production focused. Unless you’re in a private practice, corporate dental is taking over many of the clinics and they are akin to the Walmart of dentistry. Every doctor has a minimum daily production goal which is very high, and doctors are expected to see more patients in less time and it can be very stressful. Owning a private practice is expensive and increasingly difficult to maintain due to competition from large corporate dental offices with greater buying power who can offer lower prices. If you’re considering dentistry as a career, I highly recommend you interview a few orthodontists and ask for honest feedback. Interview at least one who has been in practice for 20+ years.
A great option for you would be to become a dental hygienist first. I know dentists who were formally hygienists. I was an interviewer for a dental school admissions office for a time and we always looked very favorably at candidates with dental experience, particularly hygienists, because they know exactly what they are getting into. An added bonus to becoming a hygienist first is the ability to work part-time or during the summer for a high hourly rate which can help fund your dental education. Best of luck!