eBulletin - November 10, 2009

In this Issue:

Article on Early Orthodontic Treatment Appears on MSNBC.com
American Orthodontics Corporation is First AAOF Million-Dollar Sponsor
Review Three Approaches to Correcting the "Gummy Smile"
110th Annual Session Registration Opens Online   

November 17 Webinar Topic is "Creating the Dream Team"  

AAO-Endorsed WorldPoints® Credit Card Offers Rewards  
  

Article on Early Orthodontic Treatment Appears on MSNBC.com

An Associated Press article on early orthodontic treatment appeared recently on MSNBC.com, including quotes from AAO President Dr. Robert J. Bray. Also providing information to the reporter were Dr. William Proffit, Kenan Professor of Orthodontics at the University of North Carolina, and Dr. Flavio Uribe, post-graduate program director/orthodontic clinic director at the University of Connecticut.

The article discusses the differences among different types of orthodontic problems and why some patients benefit more from early treatment than others. The recommendation for all children to have an orthodontic check-up no later than age 7 is included. Because the story is from the Associated Press, it may appear in numerous daily newspapers nationally. View the article.  

Associated Press reporter Beth J. Harpaz wrote the article. The AAO introduced orthodontic story ideas to the Associated Press during a 2008 desk-side briefing with Lifestyles Reporter Megan Scott at the wire service's New York bureau. The desk-side briefing was conducted by then-AAO President Dr. Raymond George Sr. and AAO Executive Director Chris Vranas, and was arranged for the AAO by public relations firm Weber-Shandwick.

American Orthodontics Corporation is First AAOF Million-Dollar Sponsor

The AAO Foundation has announced that American Orthodontics Corporation has doubled its original $500,000 pledge to become the first million-dollar sponsor in the history of the Foundation. Based in Sheboygan, WI, American Orthodontics provides solutions to orthodontists as a manufacturer of appliances including orthodontic bands, brackets and tubes.

The million-dollar sponsorship is partly a response to the AAOF's new fund-raising strategy, designed to take the foundation from its current level of $33 million in pledges to $100 million, says American Orthodontics President Mike Bogenschuetz.

"American Orthodontics is enthusiastic about being the first AAOF million-dollar sponsor and supporting the Continued Commitment to the Specialty℠ campaign," says Bogenschuetz, who joined the AAOF Board of Trustees earlier this year. "American Orthodontics has had 42 consecutive years of growth and now has more than 400 associates. We are an example of how the orthodontic specialty provides intellectually and financially rewarding careers not only for thousands of doctors, but also for many orthodontic vendors and their employees."

"American Orthodontics wishes to recognize the many benefits that the orthodontic specialty brings to society and give something significant back to the orthodontic community," says American Orthodontics founder and CEO Dan Merkel. "The AAOF is a great vehicle for doing so because the Foundation helps ensure the continuation of the specialty and the quality and continuity of residents' instruction. We were very impressed to learn that 80 percent of junior orthodontic faculty members supported by the AAOF were still teaching after five years." To learn more about the AAOF campaign, visit AAOfoundation.net or contact AAOF Executive Director Robert Hazel at rhazel@aaortho.org.

Review Three Approaches to Correcting the "Gummy Smile"

The AAO/ AAOMS 2010 Mid-Winter Scientific Meeting program includes presentations on "Gummy Smile" correction by Dr. Mario Polo (Botox); Dr. E. Patrick Allen (Perio Surgery); and Dr. Dale Bloomquist (Maxillary Surgery). Leading experts will address many more specialty issues and trends during the conference, "An Interdisciplinary Update on Dental and Facial Esthetics."  

Attendance at this conference will be limited to 565 participants. Take time now to register online to attend the conference, which will be January 22-24 at the beautiful, newly renovated Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Palm Springs. The AAO and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are the joint sponsors of the conference, so encourage your colleagues in the oral surgery specialty to join you.  

110th Annual Session Registration Opens Online

The AAO 2010 Annual Session registration system is now live at AAOinfo.org.  Register for Annual Session, select sessions and receive a confirmation email with a link to book housing and register for AAO Tours of Washington, D.C. and/or the Children's Program (Camp AAO).

The Web site includes PDFs for the Doctors and Orthodontic Staff programs, hotel locator maps and details of the AAO Tours and Children's Program.  The 110th AAO Annual Session will take place April 30 - May 4, 2010.

November 17 Webinar Topic is "Creating the Dream Team"

Speaker Sheila Clancy, CDA, MBA, will share her expertise on how to develop a high-performance work team during a dynamic interactive presentation of interest to doctors and staff members. Register today!  

Multiple attendees may participate for a registration fee of only $35 per office when using a common email address. One hour of CE credit is available. This one-hour Webinar will take place:

-  Tuesday, November 17, 2009:

    12:00 PM Eastern/ 11:00 AM Central/ 10:00 AM Mountain/ 9:00 AM Pacific;

-  Thursday, November 19, 2009:

    3:00 PM Eastern/ 2:00 PM Central/ 1:00 PM Mountain/ 12:00 PM Pacific

AAO-Endorsed WorldPoints® Credit Card Offers Rewards

The American Dental Association has confirmed that the ADA and Citi Bank have mutually decided to cancel their endorsed credit card. Whether or not you used the ADA's endorsed card, consider the benefits of the AAO's endorsed credit card program.

The AAO-Endorsed WorldPoints® Master Card provides points toward rewards including cash, travel, merchandise and gift certificates – with online redemption and no annual fee. Carry the card that helps support AAO programs and initiatives. The AAO-Endorsed credit card program, managed by Bank of America, offers Master Card, Visa and American Express credit cards. For more information or to apply, call 1-866-438-6262 and mention Priority Code UAA4BK. Or, visit www.newcardonline.com and enter Priority Code UAA4BK.