The History of the NZAO
This is a short history of the development of orthodontic specialization in New Zealand and the formation of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists.
Following 1945 and the end of World War Two, there was a world- wide explosion in orthodontic interest and training. This resulted in the creation of many new training programmes at Universities throughout the world. From the New Zealand perspective the orthodontic course at the Eastman Dental Hospital, part of the University of London, opened up an exciting world to New Zealand graduates. This course also gave financial assistance, in contrast to the United States of America where there were severe financial restraints on access.
The result was that during the 1960s a steady stream of bright enthusiastic new orthodontic graduates started returning to New Zealand and, together with the fortunate few who received their training in the United States or Australia, started practising throughout New Zealand.
In the 1970s this rising swell of interest in orthodontics led to the establishment of the degree of Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics at the University of Otago Dental School, and a new stream of orthodontists appeared.
In 1971 this increasing number of orthodontic specialists motivated the New Zealand Society for the Study of Orthodontics,(this was formed in 1927 and was the orthodontic study group of the New Zealand Dental Association), to hold, in Rotorua, its first truly international conference designed for the specialist orthodontist. The programme was unashamedly targeted at the swelling numbers of fulltime orthodontic specialists, rather than at the general practitioners with interest in orthodontics.
Over the next ten years the membership numbers of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Orthodontics swung more and more towards specialist orthodontists rather than general practitioners, and conferences became increasingly technical both as regards research findings and clinical techniques.
In the early 1980s there arose a ground swell of opinion requesting a full specialist orientated organization delivering advice, courses and programmes targeted directly at the specialist orthodontist in full time practice.
This led, in 1985, to a proposal being put to the Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Orthodontics that the Society be changed to an Association of Orthodontists. The meeting, consisting of both specialists and general practitioners, rejected the motion and the working party was asked to rethink their proposal.
In 1986, at Rotorua, a revised constitution for a New Zealand Association of Orthodontists was put to the Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Orthodontics. After a full discussion and considerable dissension and politicking the constitution was passed and the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists was launched. Only specialist orthodontist were given the power to vote though general practitioners would be most welcome to attend meetings and conferences.
Since then the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists has increased
greatly in numbers and matured until today it is a recognized
international body carrying out research, educational and monitoring
programmes, not only for orthodontists but also for general
practitioners and the public.