Cambridge, Mass. — The 2024 IOF-ADA Forsyth International Orthodontic Symposium, held in Cambridge, MA, USA, on October 5-6, brought together thought leaders from around the globe to discuss the latest innovations and advancements in orthodontics. This milestone event marked the first of three joint symposia by the International Orthodontics Foundation and ADA Forsyth Institute to promote global innovation in orthodontics.
With 20 lectures and two fireside discussions led by 30 experts from 24 international institutions, the symposium attracted 111,000 online views from 52 countries and regions, in addition to the sold-out venue audience.
Innovation in orthodontics and beyond
The 2024 symposium brought together some of the most influential thought leaders in orthodontics, each sharing valuable insights that will shape the future of the field. Experts discussed how the latest advancements in technology influence daily clinical practices and how these innovations will continue to evolve. Contributions from notable figures such as Dr. Raymond Cohlmia, Executive Director of the American Dental Association, and renowned materials scientist and MIT Professor Michael Cima, a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, provided a forward-looking view on how orthodontic technologies will impact both clinicians and patients alike.
“ADA Forsyth’s mission is to serve and help people globally,” Dr. Cohlmia said in his presentation which opened the conference. “The orthodontic research and innovation communities must rise to the challenge of revolutionizing orthodontic treatment with new technologies.”
Prof. Cima shared that science is about making the “unknown” known, and engineering is about making the “impossible” possible, as he highlighted the role of each in driving change. He described his cutting-edge work creating a precision drug delivery device for epilepsy that could potentially inspire new therapeutic procedures in dentistry.
Over the course of the two-day symposium, leading experts shared their latest innovations in areas such as orthodontic appliances, AI-assisted personalized treatment, novel tools for sleep apnea monitoring, complex-case management, and tele-orthodontics. The symposium also highlighted significant innovations such as Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), and the use of AI and VR in orthodontic education, and clinical practice. AI-driven diagnostic and planning tools are providing orthodontists with new ways to improve care, making treatments more precise and accessible. Experts share best practice and limitations to integrate some of these technologies into clinical workflow, offering practical solutions that enhance treatment efficiency and patient outcomes.
ADA Forsyth CSO and COO Dr. Ben Wu was impressed. “The symposium convened many of the world’s top experts in their field. The high quality of science, deep domain expertise of the presenters, and lively audience, made this symposium special. The innovative spirit was palpable.”
AFI-IOF Partnership aims to revolutionize oral health
Though the core missions of AFI and IOF are different, both are committed to expanding education and collaboration while empowering the use of new technologies to revolutionize access and quality of oral health care. Besides being a renowned global powerhouse in fundamental scientific research, AFI also actively translates research findings into clinical use through strategic collaborations with international partners.
Dr. Wenyuan Shi, CEO of AFI, identified the collaboration with IOF as one of the first of many such partnerships, representing AFI and ADA’s commitment to expanding access to oral health care globally: “We are working to promote advancement of cutting-edge technologies and research in the field, through collaborative projects with international partners, including joint training programs for postdocs, and joint symposia.” Earlier this year, the Institute signed partnerships with Dubai Health and Seoul National University, to improve international collaboration and further education in oral health research and innovation.
Dr. Kang Ting, Adjunct Faculty at AFI and Executive Director at the IOF, affirmed IOF’s commitment to education in his speech: “We believe that freely accessible high-quality global education and research opportunities are not just for our professionals, but truly for the benefit of patients worldwide and the public interest. It is a vision that welcomes and includes all, regardless of background or location.”
Donald Huang, co-chairman of IOF’s Board of Directors and Partner and Managing Director of CareCapital, concurred, adding, “Our true measure of success lies not in numbers, but in the hearts, we’ve touched – confident children, purpose-driven orthodontists, and transformed lives.”
The 2025 AFI-IOF International Orthodontics Symposium will be held in Madrid, Spain, at the Complutense University, June 27-28, 2025.
