7th Biennial Regional Orthodontic Congress in Manila

By:  Dr. Rosa Maria Wilhemina DL. Gener

The 7th Biennial Regional Orthodontic Congress was held on October 28, 2013 at the Oakwood Premiere Center in Pasig City. The program was emceed by Dr. Martin Reyes and Dr. Cristy Laureta. The invocation was led by Dr. Frances Tamayo. The delegates were formally and warmly welcomed by APO President-Elect Dr. Maria Laarni Serraon.

The first speaker was Dr. Glenn Sameshima, Chairman and Program Director of the Advanced Orthodontic Program at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. He gave a lecture on Interdisciplinary Care, explaining the connection between orthodontic, periodontic, and endodontic management, from an orthodontic perspective. We learned about the essentials of proper diagnosis and treatment planning of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with existing periodontal or endodontic problems.

Before lunch was served, the new members of APO who recently passed the PBO Phase 2 examination last January 2013 were presented for induction by Dr. Maria Laarni Serraon and Dr. Maria Victoria Reyes, Secretary of the Philippine Board of Orthodontics: Dr. Annie Lane L. Dazo, Dr. Rosa Maria Wilhelmina DL. Gener, Dr. Shirchie Iris N. Parinas and Dr. Isidro Alex C. Urriquia. The new members were awarded certificates recognizing them as Associate Members.

After the sumptuous lunch, the President of the Malaysian Association of Orthodontists Dr. Shalene Kereshanan, and ECM Dr. Noraini Binti Alwi presented their invitation to the 9th APOC and 20th MAOISCTE Regional Conference on October 17-20, 2014 at Kuching Sarawak Borneo Malayasia. The Taiwan Association of Orthodontists President Dr. Johnny Liaw also invited the delegates to the Taiwan Orthodontic forum to be held in November 2014. We were more than thankful to know about the donation of TAO for the earthquake victims in Bohol.

Dr. Sameshima’s next lecture was on contemporary issues in orthodontic practice: self ligating bracket systems, management of Skeletal Class III patients, and the issue on stability and retention. We were enlightened with helpful tips that can be applied clinically.

The second speaker was Dr. Nikhilesh Vaid, a Consultant Orthodontist and Dentofacial Orthopaedician in Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, India. His presentation was fully animated, which kept the audience attentive. He discussed aesthetic concepts in contemporary orthodontics, touching on facial and smile analyses, as well as macro and micro aesthetics. He also discussed the values of orthodontic appliances—vestibular appliances, lingual orthodontic system, and aligners.

Before the seminar ended, the speakers were awarded their respective plaques of recognition by Dr. Maria Laarni Serraon, Dr. Angela Centeno-Castro, Chair of the Scientific Seminar Committee, and Dr. Maria Victoria Reyes, Chair of the Awards and Certificates Committee.

The Congress was originally planned as a two-day seminar to be held in Panglao Island Nature Resort in Bohol, but because of the strong earthquake that hit the island last October 15, it was decided that the venue be changed to Manila, considering everyone’s safety as the priority. Nevertheless, the well attended event was considered a success.