title: Dentistry's oldest specialty: orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
abstract: The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has 15,500 members worldwide and is the oldest and largest of the recognized dental specialties. A strategic planning process has identified six key challenges, and this article describes the progress that is being made in the areas of (a) consumer education, (b) volunteer leadership development, (c) recruitment and retention of orthodontic educators, (d) relationships with ADA and other healthcare organizations, (e) the AAO's role in international orthodontics, and (f) advocacy. The AAO is working for freedom of choice in dental healthcare providers; fee-for-service dental care; orthodontic insurance coverage as a benefit of employment, with direct reimbursement as the preferred plan; self-referred access to specialists; private and public funding that promote quality orthodontic care; and the retention of tax deductibility of dental healthcare benefits, including orthodontic care.
authors.affiliation: American Association of Orthodontists, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D007391:International Cooperation; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010560:Personnel Selection; D012953:Societies, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States