Fellows, Affiliates Share Stories of World Orthodontic Health Day
Smiles were exchanged around the world as WFO fellows and affiliates observed the first World Orthodontic Health Day on May 15, 2017. Fellows and affiliate organizations held practice-based celebrations, public events promoting the benefits of orthodontic treatment and/or continuing education programs for orthodontists.
The concept for the day was developed by the WFO Promotions Committee including Dr. Nikhilesh Vaid of India, chair, Dr. Ricardo Machado Cruz of Brazil and Dr. Yanheng Zhou of China.
“This initiative by the WFO has bought orthodontists, patients and prospective patients together and significantly raised awareness of the health and social benefits of orthodontic treatment,” said Dr. Allan Thom, president of the WFO. “The interactive program was eagerly taken up world-wide and the Promotions Committee members are to be congratulated on what will now be an annual event.”
Dr. Vaid was among those celebrating World Orthodontic Health Day at the 2nd South Asia Orthodontic Regional Orthodontic Congress and 7th Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopaedic Association of Nepal (ODOAN) conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 15. The conference drew many members of the Asian Pacific Orthodontic Society and the ODOAN. Both are WFO affiliate organizations. Dr. Vaid and conference leaders organized an Orthodontic Health Run near the Nepalese parliament. The runners wore World Orthodontic Health Day T-shirts and hats. A local news conference followed the run.
“In association with ODOAN, we also had a free orthodontic screening for needy children in Nepal,” Dr. Vaid said. “Experts from throughout Asia helped with this project. Some of the children received donated services and treatment by Nepalese orthodontists. Since Nepal suffered a huge earthquake in 2015, its economy and infrastructure have suffered a setback. This event was developed to support one of the most underprivileged regions in the world. A key objective of the WFO is to bring and spread smiles across the globe through specialty care.”
Celebration reports from affiliates and fellows also included:
♦ Dr. Swati Acharya, WFO fellow celebrated the World Orthodontic Health Day with colleagues in Bhubaneshwar, India. A cultural, scientific and traditional Indian art called “rangoli,” was organized incorporating the World Orthodontic Health Day logo.
♦ Residents of the graduate program at Universidad Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia celebrated World Orthodontic Health Day with a ceremony for the 2017 best “orthodontic health video award.” Dr. Feliz Rios, the orthodontic program director for the university, coordinated the activities.
♦ On May 15th, World Orthodontic Health Day celebrations took place all over Pakistan in different cities. The president of the Pakistan Association of Orthodontists, Professor/ Colonel Dr. Iffat Batool, addressed the participants in an event at Lahore, emphasizing the significance of this day. Various academic activities included a one-day orthodontic symposium followed by a quiz competition for students, house officers and orthodontic residents. Later, the doctors met at high-tea and shared their views about the importance of spreading orthodontic health awareness. In Karachi, e-flyers were circulated for general awareness of World Orthodontic Health Day.
♦ The Bangladesh Orthodontic Society celebrated at the Dhaka Dental College and at the Chattgram International Dental College in Chittagaong. Orthodontists joined hands in celebrations and organized donated orthodontic services.
♦ Dr. Shameela Sultan from Namibia celebrated the WOHD by creating a Facebook awareness campaign in her region and also for patients visiting her office.
♦ Dr. N.Kurunji Kumaran and Dr. S. Lalithapriya of Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu, India, reported that their practice, KLAS-ONE ORTHODONTIC SPECIALTY DENTAL CLINIC, held an orthodontic awareness week from May 15 to May 21.
“To educate the population who are unaware of this treatment, we also extended this awareness program to nearby remote villages by conducting camps and distributing pamphlets,” said Dr. Kumaran. “In addition, we have started the “KLAS-ONE SMILE GRANT,” which will take care of the treatment expenses of three patients per year and support the economically underprivileged segment patients. It has created vibrant impact among the public.”
♦ Dr. Loke Shuet Toh, consultant orthodontist and head of orthodontists in the Johor Ministry of Health, Malaysia, reported:
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| Dr. Loke Shuet Toh, consultant orthodontist and head of orthodontists in the Johor Ministry of Health, Malaysia, reported that the government-run orthodontic clinic in Johor Bahru, Malaysia celebrated World Orthodontic Health Day on the 14th and 15th of May. One part of the program (pictured) focused on oral health for children, with presentations by an orthodontically-trained dental therapist who spoke with parents and children at the adjacent Maternal & Child health clinic. The orthodontists also celebrated with dental pediatric specialists and restorative specialists, enjoying a luncheon together. |
“I am delighted to celebrate this special day in our government-run orthodontic clinic in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Our WOHD was celebrated on the 14th and 15th of May. Our staff was very excited and proud to celebrate this inaugural event. Patients and parents were invited to participate and children were given funny cards, balloons, toothpaste & treated to healthy snacks for tea break. The main presenter was our orthodontically-trained dental therapist who gave talks to patients and young parents with toddlers from our adjacent Maternal & Child health clinic".
“May 15th was auspicious as it was our routine Joint Dental Specialists Clinic Day between orthodontists, dental pediatric specialists and restorative specialists,” added Dr. Bahru. “So, it was serendipity that we could celebrate with our ‘partners in orthodontic health’ too. After a busy morning of patients with our fellow colleagues, lunch with our favorite healthy, local dishes of Laksa Johor - kueh-kueh, guava, bread and fruits was much welcomed. Of course, the highlight of our celebration was the amazing ‘WOHD cake’ baked and meticulously decorated by our orthodontist, Dr. Suriyati, in honor of this inaugural event.”
♦ Romanian Association for Excellence in Orthodontics (AREO) President, Dr. Irina Zetu, reported that its residents promoted World Orthodontic Health Day at schools in Iasi, Romania and held an “Open Day” celebration at the Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi. Children attending the event received free consultations under the supervision of Dr. Zetu, who is chair of the Orthodontic Department. The event was also covered by local media.
♦ Dr. Takashi Ono, professor and chair of the Orthodontic Science department at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), reported that his department joined the university’s Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, led by Dr. Keiji Moriyama, for a seminar celebration of World Orthodontic Health Day. The speaker was Dr. Stavros Kiliaridis, professor and chair in the Department of Orthodontics, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
♦ The Kosovo Orthodontic Society celebrated World Orthodontic Health Day during its 4th International Orthodontic Conference, May 13 and 14 in Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. The topic of the conference was, “Orthodontics - How Far Did We Get?” Speakers included:
Prof. Haluk Işeri -Turkey
Dr. Anna-Kari Hajati -Sweden
Dr. Luis Pablo Cruz Hervert – Mexico
Dr. Niels Hulsink - Netherlands
Dr. Hans Ulrik Paulsen - Denmark
Dr. Sandra Anić Milošević - Croatia
Dr. Stjepan Spalj - Croatia
Dr. Marija Rakic Trajkovska - Serbia
“It was a very successful event with lots of discussions and new ideas shared,” said Dr. Jeta Kiseri Kubati, secretary of the Kosovo Orthodontic Society
♦ Like many WFO fellows, Dr. Fazel Firouzi of Tehran, Iran, reported that he celebrated the day with his patients at his practice.
Numerous posts on the WFO Facebook page, including many by Executive Committee members, showed happy faces of employees and patients enjoying practice-based celebrations with the doctors.
The WFO Executive Committee chose May 15 for World Orthodontic Health Day because it marks the signing of the WFO’s charter in 1995 during the 4th International Orthodontic Congress® in San Francisco. World Orthodontic Health Day is designed to tie the WFO’s past and future together. Going forward, the observation will take place each year on May 15. Announcements for WOHD 2018 will be made in March 2018 on the WFO website and Face Book page.