Orthodontic Technicians Association
Encyclopedia
The Orthodontic Technicians Association (OTA) is the professional body that represents orthodontic
technology specialists in the United Kingdom affiliated with the British Orthodontic Society
.
at 12 Bridewell Place in the City of London
, which opened in 2006, and occupy two floors of the Victorian building. The exterior of the building has been restored to its original Victorian style.
At the initiative of Bert Aldridge (Great Ormond Street Hospital
) and Len Bradshaw King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry
, a group of London orthodontic technician
s began to hold meetings in 1971 to discuss the regulation of orthodontic technology and the ways in which standards in the profession could be improved. This resulted in the first conference, held in April 1973.
trimmed study model
The association organizes an independent annual meeting, as well as an autumn meeting at the British Orthodontic Conference. OTA is also represented at the biannual Dental Technology Show in the Ricoh Arena
in Coventry
.
In addition, the newsletter of the British Orthodontic Society, BOS News, contains four pages of news relating to OTA.
The British Orthodontic Society Award to an Orthodontic Technician for Distinguished Service is awarded annually to an orthodontic technician who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of orthodontics. The Aldridge Medal for the best lecture given at the conference was launched in 2007.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics, orthodontia, or orthodonture is the first specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions , which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both...
technology specialists in the United Kingdom affiliated with the British Orthodontic Society
British Orthodontic Society
The British Orthodontic Society is a membership organisation with over 1800 members in the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the dental specialist groups and dates back nearly a century to the formation of the British Society for the Study of Orthodontics...
.
Offices
The OTA shares the offices of the British Orthodontic SocietyBritish Orthodontic Society
The British Orthodontic Society is a membership organisation with over 1800 members in the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the dental specialist groups and dates back nearly a century to the formation of the British Society for the Study of Orthodontics...
at 12 Bridewell Place in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, which opened in 2006, and occupy two floors of the Victorian building. The exterior of the building has been restored to its original Victorian style.
History
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
) and Len Bradshaw King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry
King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry
King's College London School of Medicine is the medical school of King's College London, and one of the United Hospitals...
, a group of London orthodontic technician
Dental technician
A dental technologist is a member of the dental team who, upon presciption from a dental clinician, constructs custom made restorative and dental appliances.There are four major disciplines within dental technology...
s began to hold meetings in 1971 to discuss the regulation of orthodontic technology and the ways in which standards in the profession could be improved. This resulted in the first conference, held in April 1973.
Logo
The OTA logo is circular in shape and depicts the letters OTA with an otter, the mascot of the Orthodontic Technicians Association. The otter is the association's mascot because of the possible pronunciation of OTA as "otter." The perimeter of the logo is encircled with the words "Orthodontic Technicians Association." Previously, the logo was based on the base of a maxillary Angle’sEdward Angle
Edward Hartley Angle was an American dentist, widely regarded as the father of modern orthodontics.Edward Angle is frequently described as "the father of modern orthodontics." He was trained as a dentist, but made orthodontics his speciality and dedicated his life to standardizing the teaching...
trimmed study model
Current activities
The aims of the association are to encourage the study, promote the highest standards of practice, and advance the knowledge of orthodontic laboratory and clinical techniques for the benefit of the orthodontic team and patient. The OTA advises institutions and individuals on the use of all orthodontic laboratory techniques and the service that is provided by orthodontic technicians.The association organizes an independent annual meeting, as well as an autumn meeting at the British Orthodontic Conference. OTA is also represented at the biannual Dental Technology Show in the Ricoh Arena
Ricoh Arena
The Ricoh Arena , home to Coventry City F.C., is a stadium complex situated in the Rowleys Green district of the city of Coventry, England containing a 32,609 seater football stadium, a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club, and a casino...
in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
Membership
The association has the following grades of membership:- Associate Members: Students and persons supporting the association that do not meet the requirements of full membership.
- Members: Persons who hold a current UK General Dental CouncilGeneral Dental CouncilThe General Dental Council is a United Kingdom organisation which regulates all dental professionals in the country. Established in 1956 by an amendment to the Dentists Act 1948, now updated in the Dentists Act 1984, it keeps an up-to-date register of all qualified dentists and other dental care...
registration as a Dental Technician or equivalent. - Licentiates: Members who have shown distinguished ability or originality in the science of orthodontic laboratory techniques, or who have been of service to the orthodontic profession.
- Fellows: members or past members recognized either for many years of service to orthodontic technology or distinguished ability or originality in this field.
- Honorary Members and Life Members: Any member of long standing who has made a notable contribution to the association’s affairs or to orthodontics, including members who have reached retirement age, but still wish to be involved with the affairs of the Association.
- Retired Members
- International Members
Publications
Since 1998 the OTA have published conference proceedings to accompany the association's conference, containing full articles relating to the lectures presented at the conference. It is edited by OTA council member John Brown. The association also publishes a quarterly newsletter to keep members up to date with news relating to orthodontic technology.In addition, the newsletter of the British Orthodontic Society, BOS News, contains four pages of news relating to OTA.
Awards
Together with the British Orthodontic Society, OTA recognizes promising students (British Orthodontic Society Technicians Award) and honours distinguished service of orthodontic technicians (British Orthodontic Society Award to an Orthodontic Technician for Distinguished Service).The British Orthodontic Society Award to an Orthodontic Technician for Distinguished Service is awarded annually to an orthodontic technician who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of orthodontics. The Aldridge Medal for the best lecture given at the conference was launched in 2007.