Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial orthopedics.
Founded in 1900, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is the world's oldest and largest dental specialty organization. It represents nearly 19,000 orthodontist members throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. All orthodontists are dentists and may simultaneously hold membership in the American Dental Association. Its headquarters are in Creve Coeur, Missouri, near St. Louis.
A number of professional degrees in dentistry are offered by dental schools in various countries around the world.
The UCLA School of Dentistry is the dental school of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) located in the Center for Health Sciences building in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. The school has several educational and training programs, conducts oral and dental health research, and offers affordable dental care at three locations: Westwood, Venice, and Inglewood. The school also participates in several outreach endeavors, including numerous health fairs during the year, STEM pipeline programs and provides dental care for underserved populations in the region. The School of Dentistry is considered among the nation's best research-intensive dental schools.
Earl Wiley Renfroe was and African-American dentist known as an innovator in the field of orthodontics and for breaking down the barriers of racism.
The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) is a medical association for orthodontists in England. It publishes the Journal of Orthodontics. The British Orthodontic society represents all orthodontists and dentists carrying out orthodontics across the UK.
James A. McNamara Jr. is an American-trained, board certified, orthodontist. He is known for his development of McNamara analysis, one of the more popular methods of cephalometric analysis in cephalometry.
Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. The specialty of pediatric dentistry is recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.
Ernest Sheldon Friel, was an Irish dentist who was the first specialist orthodontist to practise in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the second in Europe, going on to become the first Professor of Orthodontics in Europe. His obituary in The Journal of the Irish Dental Association described him as the most distinguished dentist that Ireland had ever produced.
In the United States and Canada, there are twelve recognized dental specialties in which some dentists choose to train and practice, in addition to or instead of general dentistry. In the United Kingdom and Australia, there are thirteen.
Dr. Ravindra Nanda is a professor and Head of the Department of Craniofacial Sciences and Chair of the Division of Orthodontics at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He is part of the founding faculty of School of Dental Medicine and has been at the University of Connecticut since 1972 where he also holds an Alumni Chair in the Orthodontics Division. He is an innovator of various appliances in orthodontics. His research and clinical interests include adolescent and adult orthodontics, the biology of tooth mobility, craniofacial orthopedics, biomechanics and developing efficient mechanics to deliver orthodontic care.
Robert Hallock Wright Strang was an American orthodontist. He was the first specialist in orthodontics in the state of Connecticut and practiced in Bridgeport for many years.
Albert H. Ketcham was an American orthodontist and a past president of the American Society of Orthodontists.
Angle School of Orthodontia was the first school of orthodontics in the world, established by Edward Angle in 1899. The school taught its students orthodontics over a period of 3–6 weeks. The school graduated 183 students until it closed in 1927. Among the graduates, 25 students became presidents of the American Association of Orthodontists, 11 students became head of orthodontic departments and three students became dental school deans.
T. M. "Tom" Graber was an American orthodontist known for his contributions to the field of orthodontics. Graber wrote 28 books on orthodontics and dental anatomy. He also wrote chapters in more than 20 books and over 175 published articles.
International Orthodontic Congress is a meeting held every five years where world's leading Orthodontists and allied professionals come together to discuss Orthodontic related topics. The first meeting was held in 1926 in New York City, US, and has had 8 meetings happen in its 90-year history. This is an official meeting of World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO).
American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is a non-profit professional association for orthodontists founded in 1929.
Craven Kurz was an American orthodontist who is known to be the inventor of the lingual braces in 1975. He was also the founding president of the American Lingual Orthodontic Association.
World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) was formed at the 4th International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) in San Francisco by 69 affiliated organizations on May 15, 1995, and now has over 8,000 WFO fellows and 109 affiliated organizations. It is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) is an orthodontic school located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was established in 2016 and offers a 36 month Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. In response to GSO's growth, the school opened another location in Georgia in 2017.
