Like most orthodontists, I spend the majority of my day focused on the patient in front of me. Between patient care and the demands of running a practice, it’s easy to miss the larger conversations shaping our profession, until they begin to affect the way we work.
Through my involvement with AAO advocacy, I’ve become particularly attuned to those conversations. Teledentistry is one example. We’ve all watched technology change at an extraordinary pace, giving patients more treatment options than ever, including direct-to-consumer products. There is real potential in innovation, but we also know that good orthodontic care depends on an appropriate diagnosis, sound clinical judgment, and ongoing oversight.
Policymakers don’t always understand those nuances. They may know dentistry in a general sense, but they often rely on organizations like the AAO to explain how a proposed law or regulation could play out in an orthodontic practice, and more importantly, what it could mean for patients. Much of that education happens well before an issue reaches our radar.
Student debt is another issue I notice, especially among orthodontists of my generation. Many of us started our careers with substantial educational debt, and that reality can influence everything from career decisions to the possibility of practice ownership. Helping lawmakers understand the investment required to become an orthodontist is important not only for those entering the profession now, but for the future of the specialty.
These may sound like separate issues, but they’ve reinforced the same lesson for me: our individual perspectives carry further when they become part of a shared voice. That doesn’t mean every orthodontist has to become deeply involved in advocacy. It does mean there is value in having orthodontists at the table, explaining what we see every day and helping decision-makers understand the practical consequences of their choices.
I’ve also come to appreciate how important member engagement is. Strong leadership and staff are essential, but an organization is only as strong as the people who choose to participate. Each of us brings a perspective shaped by our own patients, practices, and communities, and that collective experience is what gives the AAO’s voice its credibility.
I’ve found that same value in other parts of the AAO. The journals keep me connected to the evidence behind our clinical decisions. Meetings and online education expose me to new ideas and different treatment philosophies. Just as meaningful are the relationships. Some of my closest friends and most influential mentors are people I met through the AAO.
None of this feels separate from practicing orthodontics. Advocacy, education, mentorship, and professional community all support the work we do with patients. Many of the opportunities and protections we benefit from were built by orthodontists who chose to stay engaged before we arrived.
The future of our profession will continue to be shaped by technology, policy, economics, and changing patient expectations. We may experience those changes in different ways, but we have a shared interest in where they lead. When orthodontists bring their experience together and speak with a common purpose, our perspective is much harder to overlook.
