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Every Little Bit Counts Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

As every orthodontist knows, when it comes to the ability to pay for orthodontic education, every little bit counts. Many orthodontic companies like Forestadent USA know this and have set up scholarship programs to invest in the future of the specialty, as well as help take off a bit of the financial edge. Orthotown Magazine spoke with Forestadent USA Marketing Coordinator Karri Denny about the company's new scholarship program.

Why has Forestadent decided to award these scholarships?
Denny: Honestly this program came to fruition when I was reading an article about the cost of education for these residents, and how they are coming out of school with hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational debt. I got to thinking, why not provide an opportunity for them to help offset some of the costs of their education. The future of the orthodontic specialty depends on the success of these bright individuals, and this is our chance to give back and help them achieve success without the worry of how they are going to pay for it. It is our job at Forestadent to make sure there are opportunities available so our profession continues to attract the best and the brightest.

Who can enroll in the program?
Denny: The eligibility is pretty simple. Any resident enrolled in a U.S.-accredited orthodontic residency program is eligible to apply. Prior to the orthodontic residency, they must have completed an undergraduate program, and received their DDS at an accredited dental school. All residents are eligible regardless of their year in residency, and they are able to reapply each year they meet the requirements. The only residents not eligible are previous winners, but is not a problem this year since it is the first year the program is being offered.

How do residents enroll in this scholarship program?
Denny: They can submit an application one of two ways. We have a direct link to the application on our Web site's homepage (www.forestadentusa.com) or they can request a print application from the corporate headquarters and submit a hard copy. Either will be accepted.

Print application requests should be directed to:
Forestadent USA
2315 Weldon Parkway
St. Louis, MO 63146
Attn: Karri Denny

What is the deadline for applications?
Denny: The deadline for the applications is August 27, 2010.

When and where will the scholarships be presented?
Denny: The recipients will be selected and notified of their award by October 1, 2010, and the scholarships will be awarded in person by a member of the management team some time in October.

What are the panelists going to be looking for in each application?
Denny: When we put this program together, the first thing we asked ourselves was, "Who should receive this award?" Our thoughts were this: academically, all of the students are going to be superior, so we wanted to take a look into the personal and professional qualities we see as important for the future of this industry. They will be judged on leadership, community involvement, academics, motivation and innovation.

Will Forestadent continue with this scholarship opportunity in the future?
Denny: Yes, the hope is the program will continue on annual basis. However, next year the application deadline might change after we evaluate at the completion of this year's program.

Where does Forestadent see the future of orthodontic education?
Denny: Forestadent USA sees a bright future for orthodontic education. Not being educators, I feel that we can only comment on some of the trends that we are seeing in the industry as a whole, and how the students could potentially benefit from the changes being added into the programs.

Orthodontic education is ever evolving with the new developments in technology. It is our feeling that the education programs should embrace the new developments, and really focus on these new tools in the training; for example, the use of 3-D imaging technology. This technology is giving the doctors a unique and more efficient approach to treatment, and would be very important and beneficial to incorporate into the training programs.

The advancement in research and changing philosophies in relation to treatment and the innovation of new products is another potential training opportunity. Take mini screws, for example. This new treatment philosophy has a wide range of research possibilities, all of which can potentially improve the outcomes of the treated cases. If this topic is explored in residency, it opens a door for advanced research, and a wealth of knowledge as the residents begin in their own practices.

With the average patient demographic changing, focus on adult treatment would be another key issue which would be beneficial during resident training. For many years the treatment has been focused on younger patients, but now more and more adults are making the decision to go through orthodontic treatment. Finally, another trend becoming more and more popular is aesthetic treatment. Incorporating this into the training program could help the residents in the future. Whether this is because of the change in average patient demographic, or not, learning how to use the aesthetic offerings to their fullest potential would benefit the doctor and the patient. Aesthetic training in school could give the doctor an advantage when they leave the program and go into practice.

The key elements we see as important to the future of orthodontic education might already be incorporated in the residency programs, in which case, we are in store for great things in the near future.

For more information, please call 800-721- 4940 or visit www.forestadentusa.com.
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