Written by:
Professor Koutaro Maki
Chairperson of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) & the 5th International Congress
Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Showa University
Photograph of the venue
The 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) & the 5th International Congress was held from 3-5th November 2021. The inspiration behind our congress was “Never stopping progress even during the COVID-19 crisis”. The event was held in a hybrid format, combining both video transmission and an on-site event at PACIFICO Yokohama.
The main theme of this conference was “The Expected Future of Orthodontics.” Through this conference, we wanted to reaffirm our mission and share the various situations brought about by digital-related technology. Furthermore, we aimed to pay close attention to not only the brilliant aspects of advanced technology but also to its related problems. We also sought to explore the future direction of orthodontics. The conference program included seminars, educational lectures, a symposium and academic/ case exhibits. There was also a public lecture delivered online on the 1st October 2021 titled “What is safe and secure orthodontic treatment?”
Professor Yoshihito Niki of Showa University presented the first lecture titled “Now and Future of COVID-19 Pandemic – How Can We Control This Infection.” This was followed by a special lecture given by Dr. Fumio Yogosawa on “Transition of the Orthodontic Practice”. In the 5th International Congress Symposium, Professor Tarek Hessin El-Bialy of the University of Alberta; Dr. Brent Dee Bankhead; and Professor James Mah of the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) explored “The Bright and Dark Sides of Aligner Orthodontics.” They not only highlighted the advantages and benefits of aligner treatments but also identified the problematic aspects and established the factors requiring consideration. For this lecture, we requested the presentation to be video recorded in advance because of the restrictions in overseas travel. The video recordings were delivered to the venue and streamed online.
A special lecture by Dr. Fumio Yogosawa
The 80th Memorial Symposium
During the 80th Memorial Symposium, Professor Keiji Moriyama and Professor Isao Saito discussed the topic of “The Future of Orthodontics in Japan.” In the clinical seminar titled “Interdisciplinary Orthodontic Treatment,” Dr. Masao Yamazaki, as the chairperson of the Society of Japan Clinical Dentistry; Dr. Mitsuhiro Iwata; and Dr. Junichi Watahiki spoke about the difficulties in interdisciplinary orthodontic treatments and the relevant factors that need to be considered.
The final day of the symposium was co-sponsored by two academic societies: The Dental Committee of the Science Council of Japan and JOS. It included a keynote speech on the “craniofacial development of cyclostomes and early evolution of vertebrates,” as well as lectures about the “regulatory mechanisms of bone homeostasis” and “the mechanical stress response of cellular networks.”