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02 Dental Tribune Asia Pacific Edition | 9/2016 ASIA PACIFIC NEWS IMPRINT PUBLISHER: Torsten OEMUS GROUP EDITOR/MANAGING EDITOR DT AP & UK: Daniel ZIMMERMANN newsroom@dental-tribune.com CLINICAL EDITOR: Magda WOJTKIEWICZ ONLINE EDITOR: Claudia DUSCHEK EDITOR: Anne FAULMANN ASSISTENT EDITOR: Kristin HÜBNER COPY EDITORS: Sabrina RAAFF, Hans MOTSCHMANN PRESIDENT/CEO: Torsten OEMUS CFO/COO: Dan WUNDERLICH MEDIA SALES MANAGERS: Matthias DIESSNER Peter WITTECZEK Maria KAISER Melissa BROWN Weridiana MAGESWKI Hélène CARPENTIER Antje KAHNT INTERNATIONAL PR & PROJECT MANAGER: Marc CHALUPSKY MARKETING & SALES SERVICES: Nicole ANDRAE ACCOUNTING: Karen HAMATSCHEK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Claudia SALWICZEK-MAJONEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Gernot MEYER AD PRODUCTION: Marius MEZGER DESIGNER: Franziska DACHSEL INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL BOARD: Dr Nasser Barghi, Ceramics, USA Dr Karl Behr, Endodontics, Germany Dr George Freedman, Esthetics, Canada Dr Howard Glazer, Cariology, USA Prof. Dr I. Krejci, Conservative Dentistry, Switzerland Dr Edward Lynch, Restorative, Ireland Dr Ziv Mazor, Implantology, Israel Prof. Dr Georg Meyer, Restorative, Germany Prof. Dr Rudolph Slavicek, Function, Austria Dr Marius Steigmann, Implantology, Germany Published by DT Asia Pacific Ltd. DENTAL TRIBUNE INTERNATIONAL Holbeinstr. 29, 04229, Leipzig, Germany Tel.: +49 341 48474-302 Fax: +49 341 48474-173 info@dental-tribune.com www.dental-tribune.com Regional Offices: DT ASIA PACIFIC LTD. c/o Yonto Risio Communications Ltd, Room 1406, Rightful Centre, 12 Tak Hing Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel.: +852 3113 6177 Fax: +852 3113 6199 UNITED KINGDOM 535, Stillwater Drive 5 Manchester M11 4TF Tel.: +44 161 223 1830 www.dental-tribune.co.uk DENTAL TRIBUNE AMERICA, LLC 116 West 23rd Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10001, USA Tel.: +1 212 244 7181 Fax: +1 212 224 7185 © 2016, Dental Tribune International GmbH All rights reserved. Dental Tribune makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume respon- sibility for the validity of product claims, or for typo- graphical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or state- ments made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. Scan this code to subscribe our weekly Dental Tribune AP e-newsletter. DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · United Kingdom Edition ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providersof continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Join the largest educational network in dentistry! www.DTStudyClub.com – education everywhere and anytime – live and interactive webinars – more than 1,000 archived courses – a focused discussion forum – free membership – no travel costs – no time away from the practice – interaction with colleagues and experts across the globe – a growing database of scientific articles and case reports – ADA CERP-recognized credit administration register for FREE Dental Tribune Study Club AD Asia Pacific region sees significant shift in attitudes towards braces By DTI HONG KONG/PHNOM PENH, Cambodia/SYDNEY,Australia:From the thriving fake braces business in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia to Australian children being disappointed when being told they do not need braces—in the last decade, attitudes towards orthodontic treatment have seen an incredible shift in the Asia- Pacific region from being a hard- ship of adolescence to making a fashion statement. Whether because of advances in technology that have made today’s fixed orthodontic appli- ances smaller and more comfort- able than ever or the vast array of colours orthodontic brackets and components are available in, dental braces are enjoying sur- prising popularity as a fashion craze in parts of Asia. The phe- nomenon of fashion braces that serve no medical purpose first appeared in Thailand in 2006. From there, the trend quickly spread to neighbouring countries Indonesia, Malaysia and, most recently, Cambodia. As reported by the Phnom Penh Post, fake braces are easily available online and through local suppliers in these countries, with material kits starting from as low as US$20 (€17,91). After purchasing the neces- sary components, customers are referred to local dentists for im- pressions and attachment. How- ever, even if the braces are fitted by a trained professional—which is not always the case, seeing as many dentists are simply refus- ing to do so, given the lack of medical purpose—the trend is a dangerous one to follow, experts caution. For example, the use of unsterilised equipment or sub- standard adhesives could cause infections and illness. Further- more, fake braces expose their wearers to the same risks as that of actual fixed orthodontic appli- ances. According to Dr Hok Sim Kor, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Phnom Penh Inter- national University, wearers with poor oral hygiene run the risk of demineralisation of the teeth, tooth decay or periodontal dis- ease. Moreover, just like actual fixed orthodontic appliances, fashion braces may move well- aligned teeth into the wrong posi- tion without regular adjustment or check-ups. Aussie kids excited about fixed orthodontic appliances Further to the south, in Aus- tralia, braces may not be con- sidered a fashion statement yet; however, attitudes towards ortho- dontic treatment have shifted similarly over the past several years. A recent study conducted by the Australian Society of Ortho- dontists has found that seven in ten children responded with hap- piness or excitement upon hear- ing that they needed treatment with fixed orthodontic appli- ances. Moreover, nine in ten of the specialist orthodontists surveyed said that they had witnessed a child become visibly upset when told he or she did not need such treatment. According to society spokes- person and practising orthodon- tist Dr David Mastroianni, these findings reflect patients’ shifting opinions in Australia. “The indus- try has observed a shift in atti- tudes towards braces and ortho- dontic treatment first hand. We now have children coming in for consultations, not because they’ve been referred by their dentist, but because the child wants braces,” he remarked. “With advances in tech- nology, braces today are not only small and comfortable, but offer coloured or glow-in-the-dark op- tions. Teens across the country are embracing their orthodontic treat- ment to personalise their look.” However, regardless of how children feel about fixed ortho- dontic appliances, it is the role of the orthodontist to determine whether such treatment is the appropriate course of action for the individual, Mastroianni em- phasised. “There’s no denying that braces can be one of the best things you can do for your child and no one’s questioning the ben- efits, but it’s our responsibility, as specialist orthodontists, to dis- tinguishthe‘need’fromthe‘want’ to determine the best course of action, if any, required.” ©TinnaPong/Shutterstock.com “...braces are enjoying surprising popularity as a fashion craze...” Tel.: +4934148474-302 Fax: +4934148474-173 Tel.: +85231136177 Fax: +85231136199 Tel.: +441612231830 Tel.: +12122447181 Fax: +12122247185