American Association of Orthodontists 116th Annual Session in Orlando Promises an Unforgettable Learning Experience in The City Beautiful

American Association of Orthodontists 116th Annual Session in Orlando

Promises an Unforgettable Learning Experience in “The City Beautiful”

Five days of learning to enhance patient care

ST. LOUIS (April 14, 2016) – The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the oldest and largest dental specialty organization in the world with more than 18,000 members, will host its 116th Annual Session, “Bringing Us Together,” at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, April 29 – May 3. Of the 17,000 expected attendees at the AAO Annual Session, there will be some 3,000 international attendees representing 90 countries.

The five-day Annual Session is the premier global gathering of orthodontists and their staff featuring an unforgettable mix of spectacular Orlando-style entertainment and informative educational programs. The Annual Session will present more than 150 lectures for AAO doctors and their staff, giving them access to the latest updates on orthodontic research, technology and practice management.

“The 2016 Doctors’ Scientific Program will offer a wealth of clinical and scientific information applicable to orthodontic practice, as well as in-depth information about every aspect of effective practice management,” said Morris N. Poole, DDS, president of the AAO. “The Annual Session provides orthodontists and their staff the latest in orthodontic developments and trends, technology and business practices to help them enhance their service to patients.”

The Annual Session also features the largest exhibit hall of its kind in the world, with more than 300 exhibitors displaying products and services that are used in orthodontic practices.

Three well-known speakers will deliver the named lectures at the 116th AAO Annual Session:

Dr. Birte Melsen, former professor and head of the Department of Orthodontics at The School of Dentistry, Aarhus University, Denmark and now in private practice in L?beck, Germany, will give the Edward H. Angle Lecture on Saturday, April 30. Her presentation is entitled “Fast Food or Slow Food in Orthodontics.”

Dr. Larry Andrews, clinical professor in the orthodontic residency program at the University of California at San Francisco and founder of the Six Keys™ to Optimal Occlusion and the Six Elements of Orofacial Harmony™, will give the Jacob A. Salzmann Lecture on Sunday, May 1. He will speak on “The Six Elements of Orthodontic Philosophy.”

Dr. Sheldon Peck, adjunct professor of orthodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and associate editor of The Angle Orthodontist, will give the John Valentine Mershon Lecture on Monday, May 2. He will discuss “New Discoveries to Improve Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment.”

The AAO will recognize outstanding orthodontists and their accomplishments at the Excellence in Orthodontics Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Sunday, May 1.

The 2016 James E. Brophy AAO Distinguished Service Award will be presented to James L. Vaden, DDS, MS, of Cookeville, Tennessee. The award is presented to those who have made contributions to orthodontics in addition to other valuable and devoted services to the AAO and to its membership.

The AAO Humanitarian Award recognizes significant contributions to improve the quality of human life that extends beyond the usual scope of private practice, academic functions or organized dentistry. This year’s AAO Humanitarian Award will go to Jacqueline M. Miller, DDS, MS, of Washington, Missouri.

The 2016 Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award will be presented to W. Eugene Roberts, DDS, of Indianapolis, Indiana, by the American Board of Orthodontics for his notable contributions to the science and art of orthodontics.

Kevin O’Brien, BDS, MSc, PhD, of Manchester, United Kingdom, will receive the 2016 Louise Ada Jarabak Memorial International Teachers and Research Award from the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. The award honors significant contributions to orthodontic teaching and research.

“There have been tremendous advances and innovations in orthodontic treatment, and the technology orthodontists now use contributes to our ability to provide the highest level of care to our patients,” Dr. Poole said. “The Annual Session is the perfect opportunity to build on our knowledge to better serve our patients and help them enjoy the physical and social benefits of a healthy and beautiful smile.

“Adult patients comprise a growing segment of our patient population, with more than one in four patients being age 18 or older – and sometimes much older,” according to Dr. Poole. “One of the key benefits of the healthy, beautiful smile that comes from orthodontic treatment is confidence, providing a positive effect on the patient’s work and personal relationships.” The overall number of adult patients grew from 680,000 is 1994 to 1,460,000 in 2014, an increase of 115 percent.

The AAO educates the public about orthodontists’ unique qualifications through its Consumer Awareness Program. A core message of the campaign is the emphasis on the two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school required to become an orthodontist and to learn the proper way to straighten teeth and align jaws. The public is invited to visit the AAO’s website, mylifemysmile.org, to learn more about orthodontic care, and to locate nearby AAO members using the site’s Find an Orthodontist service.

For more information about orthodontic treatment and orthodontists, please visit mylifemysmile.org.

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