Take Part or Be Taken Apart
By Dr. Dan Joseph
Last year, West Virginia came critically close to losing an important safeguard for orthodontists and our patients. A proposed universal licensing bill would have limited the ability of our state dental board to oversee licensed dentists, including orthodontists, and protect the public. With help from AAO staff and the Component Legal Support Fund, we secured an exemption that preserved that oversight. We were the only licensed profession to receive one.
That experience made something very clear to me: advocacy is not abstract. Government can make decisions that change the way we practice in a matter of minutes. If orthodontists are not engaged, those decisions may be made without a full understanding of their consequences. This is where a unified AAO voice matters; it brings our experience together and makes our perspective much harder to overlook.
Fortunately, our National Advocacy Network volunteers were already at the Capitol working to pass an AAO-authored teledentistry bill. A legislator who had built a relationship with us through that effort helped secure the licensing amendment. One issue opened the door for us to respond quickly to another.
I have learned that legislators listen. They recognize that orthodontists are authorities on the care we provide. But the best time to build a relationship is before you need to ask for help. We may not share the same political philosophy, but we can usually find common ground in doing what is right for patients—who are also their constituents.
We have a wonderful profession. It is only that way because generations of orthodontists chose to lead, serve and stay involved. You do not need a formal title to be a leader. In the words of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
The value of the AAO extends beyond advocacy, and there are many ways to take part. Continuing education is one. AAO journals and online learning keep us connected to new evidence and techniques, while meetings allow us to see new products firsthand and learn directly from colleagues.
Professional connection matters, too. Through AAO meetings, I have built relationships with orthodontists around the world. When a patient transfers, I often know the receiving orthodontist, or someone who does. That familiarity can support a smoother transition and better continuity of care.
I have also watched the AAO expand its support for the next generation through the Resident Legal Course, advocacy for student debt relief, and AAO Foundation programs for residents and faculty.
The late Senator Alan Simpson once told us, “Take part or be taken apart.” Our profession is what it is because others took part before us. We owe the next generation the same commitment.
