The British Orthodontic Society Conference 2022 was held at the NEC in Birmingham, and I was honoured to attend as the BDJ Student representative. It consisted of intriguing lectures from a diverse range of clinicians with an abundance of knowledge.

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The conference commenced by Dr Farhad Naini describing orthodontists as the architects of dentistry in the lecture: 'Achieving Predictable Results in Orthognathic Surgery'. Dr Naini described the layman seeing the overall lack of beauty in a smile, while an orthodontist notices the minute details in undesirable aesthetics alongside the structural issues (like an architect looking at a building). The orthodontic field, like architecture, must consider a combination of function and aesthetics in their work.

In the 'Management of Adult Cleft Palate' lecture, Dr Preeti Jauhar explained the acronym SMART - smart, measurable outcome, attainable, achievable, and timely. This is to aid orthodontic treatment planning and a requirement due to the multidisciplinary approach required. This illustrated the expansive number of healthcare professionals involved and the vast number of different fields that are involved in the holistic approach of patient care.

I am certain I will apply this valuable guidance to all my future learning and clinical experience.

Lars Christensen presented a unique perspective about 'Digital Technologies Coming to the Rescue of Orthodontics'. The use of three-dimensional virtual surgical planning (3D-VSP) is utilised to aid planning of orthognathic surgery. This gives the patient a realistic expectation of what the final product of their smile will look like before commencement of life-changing surgery. This will help patient expectations to be realistic as they are influenced by social media which leads to body dysmorphia. Unfortunately, this is prevalent and can be difficult to overcome for orthodontists, therefore digital technology is helpful to increase patient satisfaction with orthodontic outcomes.

In the press conference, Dr Michael Moseley described 'your smile as your personality'. Also, that psychological studies have shown that a smile intensity in photographs predicts the likelihood of divorce later in life! This is an example of the effects of orthodontics not only on your teeth but mental and physical wellbeing. Like Dr Christensen, this highlights that orthodontic treatment has multiple positive outcomes on the patient, ranging from physical function to psychological benefits.

The enthusiasm and dedication to the speciality from the speakers and organisers was reflected in the success of the conference. The learning and networking opportunities are valuable for clinicians at any stage in their career.