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ePaper created 2017-02-07, 08:52:43 | version 1.38.0
By Kristin Hübner, DTI From 24 to 26 February, the or- thodontic community will come together at the Association of Orthodontists (Singapore) Congress (AOSC) at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Dental Tribune had the opportunity to speak with AOSC Chairperson Dr Mohan about high- lights of this year’s programme and why he thinks it is important for specialist congresses to both look at successfully treated cases and discuss and learn from cases that have failed. Dental Tribune: One objective of the AOS is to provide a lively platform for dental professionals throughout the world and to foster closer ties between them. How im- portant is the congress in achieving this aim? Dr Mohan: In orthodontics today, there are many new trends, clinical developments and tech- niques to advance excellence in orthodontic practices. AOS, through our biennial conferences, aims to bring together world- famous researchers, academics and clinicians to provide attend- ees with the most updated review of the evidence base and clinical areas related to the specialty of orthodontics. This is the fourth biennial meeting. What has changed over the years? In the last four editions, we have seen a tremendous growth in the number of attendees from around the world, not just limited to the Asia-Pacific region. We also have an increased number of international orthodontic com- panies exhibiting at AOSC, es- pecially in the field of digital imaging. What is the theme of this year’s event and why was it chosen? The theme “Achieving success: Overcoming challenges in ortho- dontics” was chosen because, be- sides seeing successfully treated cases, we feel we can also learn from seeing cases that have failed. Seeing such cases allows us to re- view our approach and adjust the treatment plan as we go along. Our speakers have been asked to especially highlight cases with poor outcomes for discussion. How many visitors do you expect to attend the meeting? We are expecting 550 attend- ees from across the region and almost all of the workshops are already sold out. Based on our current registration numbers, we have noticed an increase in the number of visitors from neigh- bouring countries Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam and else- where, making AOSC 2017 a truly regional event. From your perspective, what have been the most important develop- ments in orthodontics in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region in re- cent years? The most important develop- ments in orthodontics in recent years are the advancements in digital imaging and 3-D printing. Besides being crucial for ortho- dontic diagnosis and treatment planning, digital imaging and 3-D printing are essential tools that allow us to closely monitor treatment progress and outcome. With advancements in imaging and 3-D printing, we are able to improve the level of diagnosis, vary the treatment options and achieve more predictable treat- ment outcomes. What are the key topics of the scientific programme? It is difficult to pick a key topic, as all of our presenters are leaders in their respective fields and will be speaking on their specialty topics. For example, Dr Richard McLaughlin, the creator of the MBT system, will be giving an overview on clinical orthodontics. Prof. Ravindra Nanda will speak on managing complex multidisci- plinary patients, which is becom- ing more relevant these days as we see more and more adult patients. A range of topics, including reten- tion, anterior open bite and clear aligner treatment, will also be cov- ered, providing all participants with the opportunity to focus on their chosen key topic. What will be happening on the pre- and post-congress days? The days before and after the event have traditionally been reserved for limited-attendance workshops at AOSC. This edition is no different. We have five half- day workshops, which will cover topics such as how anchorage concepts with mini-screws can be implemented, how to incorporate evidenceintothedailypracticeand the biomechanical background of Invisalign (Align Technology). There will also be an industry exhi- bition alongside the congress. With the event being held just before the2017InternationalDentalShow, can visitors look forward to trying out some exciting new orthodontic products? Yes, we are excited to have in- creased our number of exhibitors by15percentforthisedition,bring- ing the total to 30 exhibitors re- presenting 77 brands. Products on display will cover both well-estab- lished brands, such as Invisalign and CEREC (Dentsply Sirona), and new brands and services, such as Dental Monitoring and JoyAligner (Bliva). There will also be a number of live demonstrations of products and software during the exhibition that visitors can look forward to. Aside from the exhibition and the lectures, what networking events have you planned this year? Our networking events are among the highlights of AOSC. This edition’s fully booked wel- come reception will be held at Aura, which sits on top of Singa- pore’s newest museum, the Na- tional Gallery. The location offers great views of Singapore’s skyline, while reflecting Singapore’s his- tory, as the building in which the restaurant is housed is the former Supreme Court of Singapore. The Gardens by the Bay Run will give participants another op- portunity to meet with their peers. I believe that the run is unique to our conference and exhibition. This edition’s two kilometres route will take participants along both the Marina Bay and the Gardens by the Bay before the conference begins on the second day. Thank you very much for the inter- view. ORTHOTRIBUNE The World’s Orthodontic Newspaper · Asia Pacific Edition “We have seen a tremendous growth in the number of attendees” An interview with Dr Mohanarajah s/o S. Senathirajah, Chairperson of the Association of Orthodontists (Singapore) Congress 2017 Published in Hong Kong www.dental-tribune.asia Vol. 15, No. 1+2 “We can also learn from seeing cases that have failed.” Dr Mohan, Vice President of the Asso- ciation of Orthodontists (Singapore) and chairperson of the 2017 congress organising committee. © Koelnmesse marcom © Koelnmesse marcom