Latest Trends in Orthodontic Treatments and Technologies Showcased at the American Association of Orthodontists 113th Annual Session in Philadelphia

ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the oldest and largest dental specialty organization in the world with more than 17,000 members, will host its 113^th Annual Session at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia May 3-7.

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According to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the conference is expected to draw 16,000 attendees, resulting in an economic impact of $25.8 million. The five-day conference is the premier global gathering of orthodontists and will feature more than 150 lectures for orthodontists and their staff featuring updates on orthodontic research, technology and practice management.

A trend that AAO-member orthodontists are seeing is that more adults are seeking orthodontic care as a result of the advancements in treatments that fit an adult lifestyle and the affordability of care. The overall number of adult patients has increased by 23% from 20 years ago, and today, adults make up more than one in five of all orthodontic patients.

"There have been tremendous advances and innovations in orthodontic treatment, and the technology orthodontists now use is game-changing," said John F. Buzzatto, DMD, MDS and president of the American Association of Orthodontists. "There are many ways patients can achieve a healthy and beautiful smile, and as highly-educated specialists who provide orthodontic care, orthodontists are able to evaluate and prescribe individualized treatment solutions to reach treatment goals."

Of the 16,000 expected attendees, there will be more than 2,300 international attendees representing 87 countries. The AAO Annual Session will also feature educational networking and the opportunity for orthodontists to explore the latest state-of-the-art orthodontic products and services from more than 300 companies in the largest Exhibit Hall of its kind in the world.

Since 2006, the AAO has sought to educate the public about orthodontists' unique qualifications through its Consumer Awareness Program.  This year marks the second of the "My Life. My Smile. My Orthodontist.®" campaign, which is designed to reach adults who are considering improving their smiles, and heralds the two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school required to learn the proper way to straighten teeth and align jaws.  The awareness campaign targets the adult market through TV commercials, print ads, and online outreach including the mylifemysmile.org website.

"We want to make sure people realize that it's never too late to create a healthy smile," said Dr. Buzzatto. "Adults getting orthodontic treatment is a real trend, and we're seeing this with celebrities and average people alike."

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

About the American Association of Orthodontists: Founded in 1900, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is the world's oldest and largest dental specialty organization.  The Association encourages and sponsors key research to enable its members to provide the highest quality of care to patients, and is committed to educating the public about the need for, and benefits of, orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. 

For more information about orthodontics and to find nearby AAO-member orthodontists, visit mylifemysmile.org.

Media Contacts:
Pam Paladin
Marketing and Member/Consumer Relations Manager
American Association of Orthodontists
314-993-1700, ext. 524
215-418-2358 (May 2 - May 7)
[email protected]

Pat Burek
Finn Partners for AAO
201-655-3406
[email protected]

SOURCE American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)