Toshi’s Blog

From April 2nd to 4th, the World society of Lingual Orthodontics Meeting was held at the Osaka International Convention Center.
 

 
I was invited for this congress as a lecturer of Pre-congress　course and the very last speaker of April 3rd.
 
The opening ceremony was started with a one minute silent prayer to the people killed with Tsunami.
When I imagine the people who lost their family and have never seen them since the earthquake, they nevertheless never give up their lives and believing their families are still alive somewhere, I became so sad and could not stop my tears.
It is hard to imagine the hardships and the horrors that people have endured from the earthquake and the tsunami.
I do not believe I could endure such trauma with such grace as I have seen and I hope the best psychological care will be provided for victims, and a fast recovery from the stricken area will be done.
 
As for the congress, most participants from abroad had canceled their attendance due to the Nuclear power plant accidents.
However, some of them attended the meeting, and whenever they said “Ganbare-Nippon, Makeruna-Nippon” or presented such slides, tears streamed down my cheeks.
 

On April 2nd, the day before the congress, pre-congress　courses were held.
There were speakers who had just a few participants in their classes, however I was fortunate to have around 90 attendants so that the main congress room was used for my course.
 

 
I deeply appreciate all the participants around the world who chose to attend my course.
 

 
My course consisted of three kinds of wire bending and the Key Points Lecture of Lingual Orthodontics.
 

 
These three kinds of wire bending exercises were linked to each other.
The “Breakfast menu” is a training that enhances the wire bending skills in our practice.
 
The second one helps us understand how the posterior section affected by anterior bends, or its opposite, and master how we can bend the rectangular wires precisely, without making any distortions.
 

 
The third one is a clinical exercise, how to bend the closing arch, how to add the Labial Crown Torque in the anterior section.
Using 1725 Beta Titan wire, fabricate a Lingual mushroom　arch, and put the Labial Crown Torque in the anterior area, then to adjust the Gable Bend.
The completed wire was the same wire as I use for Space Closing in my practice.
 
These 3 exercise took much longer than I had expected, so I the lecture of  Key points was done in a hurry.
 
I was afraid that I might get some complaints from attendants because I made the lecture so quick, however, so many doctors came to me and shared their appreciation for such torqueing techniques.
 
Detailed information is not written on this website because to attend the classes is better than reading about them.
I am sorry for any inconvenience that may cause.
Please look forward to the next chance that we may meet.
 

As for the main congress, an ”Incident” that will change the future of Orthodontics in Japan happened.
That is, Dr.Goto, the Professor and Chairman of Aichi　Gakuin University, and many other professors and chairmen attended the Congress.
This is Dr.Inami’s effort, which I really respect along with his great work.　
Outside of Japan, a lot of Professors and Chairmen routinely attend Lingual meetings, however no Japanese Professors or Chairmen had ever attended the Lingual meetings before.
 
There are some reasons for it, but I think the biggest ones are the negative images against Lingual Orthodontics, such as “Lingual orthodontists are money　collectors” or “the poor results of Lingual orthodontics” kept them away from Lingual orthodontics.
 
All Lingual Orthodontists must think about them, and review what you/they did in past days.
Even though she/he has few thousands cases of Lingual but only a few excellent cases, it is quite natural to be treated as above.
 
Therefore, whenever I treat Lingual, I always concentrate every thing be better than Labial treatment, not only for treatment results but also records, diagnosis, treatment process, treatment results, treatment terms, post-treatment stabilities, etc..
 
For my presentation, I emphasized that Lingual is not Fashion, Lingual is not a tool to get more patients, but there are doctors who are practicing Lingual quite seriously, and doing quite excellent work.
I hope all the people in the Congress can understand my opinion and that we can continue a positive dialogue concerning Lingual orthodontics.
 

He is Dr Arima, from Brazil.
I heard that his board cases were the best among the candidates.
 
 
At the congress, Dr.Svitlana Babii asked me if she could visit my Clinic after congress, and I was happy to accept her offer.
 

 
She stayed at my clinic for two days, so that she learned the laboratory procedures of the Hiro Technique.
 

We had a Dinner at the Japanese Kitchen. 
 

Say Vdoka!
 
 


 
The next Lingual meeting will be held on June 28th to July 1st, at Frankfort.  
I hope I will be able to see everyone who attended this WSLO at the next ESLO meeting.
 

On 24th and 25th in October, “Toshiaki Hiro’s Lingual Orthodontic Seminar” was held at the Tokyo Station Conference.
 
10 years have passed since I held the Lingual Orthodontic Course in Japan.
In 2001, it was a great success with 200 participants but I haven’t held any courses in this country since.
This is because my primary work is treating patients, not teaching other doctors.
 
However, I turned 50 years old this year, it is a half century, and I began to realize that my life is quite short.
Since I was given the 1st World Board of Lingual Orthodontics around the world at the ESLO meeting in Cannes, and I had passed the Member of Orthodontics RCSEd, the European Board of Orthodontics, and the Japan Orthodontic Board, submitting Lingual Orthodontics cases for these exams, and, also I heard that “Hiro technique’s study group” was born in Italy, I had changed my mind about teaching what I have learned to others.
With that in mind, I chose to introduce all of my treatment techniques and laboratory procedures for young orthodontists, the successors.
So I held the Lingual course in Tokyo, Japan.
 

 
I advertised in just 3 kinds of Orthodontic Journals, but fortunately, I had about 100 Orthodontic specialists, coming from all over Japan.
 
The first day, I explained the procedure of widely used Indirect Bonding Systems and its pros and cons, the most recent Hiro system laboratory procedure and its key points, showed a Clinical video of Hiro’s indirect bonding 〜 Brace off 〜 Bonding fixed lingual retainers, introduced 8 Lingual Orthodontic cases submitted for EBO, 3 lingual cases for JOB, Low teen lingual cases, and discussed the trouble cases of attendants that were sent to me before the course.
 

 
The presentations about the anchorage and the bowing effects were the most important and interesting lectures because my opinion is different from many other doctors.
 

 
The second day, only 30 limited participants took the Laboratory experience course, and they completed the most recent “Hiro’s Indirect Core” with my supervision, using special set-up models.
 
After the course, I received a lot of emails from participants that the course was excellent, which they had never taken before.
Some of them expressed that the first day alone would be worth a 500,000yen attendance fee.
 

 

 
I was so happy to meet them, and also I had great time with my staff.
 
I thank to my staff.
 
 

On September 27–29, the 69th JOS  meeting was held at Pacifico Yokohama.
 
At this time, I submitted 3 Lingual Orthodontics cases for my renewal of Japan Orthodontic Board, and fortunately all cases passed the exam.
 

This is the venue of JOS, Pacifico Yokohama Conference Centre
 
Japan Orthodontic Board was established in 2006, and I passed the 1st exam in Sapporo, as I already wrote in my Blog.
This is quite strict exam, held completely anonymous.
Actually, one Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthodontics, ●● Dental University, had failed it twice.
 
Since the License is valid for five years, License holders who were certified in 2006 must pass the renewal exam before November 2011.
In order to renew the License, she/he must submit the cases treated by herself/himself, treatment ended after 2006, retained more than 2 years, for JOS meeting and pass it at least 3 cases.
 
Because of my constant overworking for my practice, preparing for Congress and Presentations, I was not aware of the renewal exam, and was thinking I could renew my License just submitting application forms for JOS,,,(there are no such things as free lunch,,,).
 
Around a half year ago, I was just talking with my friend, and she said “Toshi, how many certificates have you gotten?”
“Certificates? For what?”  I replied, and then I found out about the renewal exam.
I lost my mind because I did nothing last 4 years.
 
After coming back to my office, and “talking” to thousands of treatment records,
 I decided to submit all cases treated with Lingual as I tried EBO and M-Ortho.
Finally six cases were selected, then I asked the patients if they could sign the application form or not because patients’ written agreements are required for JBO exam.
I was so happy because all patients signed gladly.
 
Finally 3 cases were selected from these 6 cases（Angle Class I crowding Extraction case, Angle Class II div.1 Extraction case, Angle Class II div.1 Non-extraction case, Angle Class II div.2 Extraction case, Angle Class II div.2 Non-extraction case, Angle Class III Non-extraction Non-Surgical case） and the preparation for exam was started 3 weeks before the JOS.
 
However,,, I am too busy for my practice everyday, I didn’t have any time to sum the records up as I experienced in the past other exam.
Therefore, I woke up at 5:00 every morning and did paper work for weekdays, all day long for my off days.
 
Just a week before the JOS, I found out that one of them did not satisfy the regulations, because the retention period of 2nd case was a week shorter.
“Oh my Budda!”, everything I did for 2nd case changed to trash, but it is my fault.
I picked up another case, and sent X-rays and dental casts for duplicate.
 
Finally September 25th had come, the day before JOS.
I must leave my home, but filing records were not completed, so I put lots of stationery and a Light Box in my car, headed to Yokohama.
Right after checking in the hotel, I started to work, and fortunately I could finish my work in the morning of JOS.
 
Scratching my red eyes, I went to the room for JOB and presented my cases.
After presenting the cases, candidates must not stay in the room, so I headed to my room to sleep.
When I got on the Lift, an elder foreign couple glanced at my nametag and asked me “JOS?”
I replied “Yes, sir, I have just put my cases for renewal of ,,,” and then I realized that they were Dr.Thomas Mulligan, a God of Orthodontics, and his wife!
“Really?!?!?  Oh my god, I am so happy to see you!  I have your book, Common Sense Mechanics!”
Then he said “Oh, you poor guy!”, and laughed.
(I should have taken a picture with them,,)
 
After taking some rest, I went to “Tookarou” in China town and had Lunch.
I used to go there because they serve quite nice Shark Fins at a reasonable price.
 

However, the taste was different from that I had before, the noodle was different,,.
 
The next day, I attended the Joint Meeting of Korea and Japan .
Dr.Sang-Cheol Kim’s “Functional Diagnosis for Class II malocclusion”, Dr.Itou Kazuaki’s “Functional Appliance used for treating Class II patients in the growth period –Clinical efficacy of Bite Jumping Appliance(BJA)”, Dr.Byoung-Ho Kim’s ” Surgical strategies in skeletal class II malocclusion ” were interesting lectures.
 
After Dr.Itou’s presentation, I raised my hand and asked him why he didn’t use Orthopedic force because in general Class II Div.1 cases have Gummy so that vertical growth control of Maxilla are required.
I usually use Activator-Headgear for those cases, and obtaining quite excellent results with Maxillary growth inhibition and Mandibular growth promotion.
Considering his answer, the reason why he didn’t do so was seemed to be misunderstanding of the Center of resistance of High pull/Occipital pull Headgear.
We can avoid Molar intrusion force even for High pull Headgears.
 
After Breakfast of 29th, I run to the JOB room to see the results.
The doors were still kept closed at scheduled opening time, and I was so nervous.
Praying with Budda, “please give me good news,,,” my heart beats.
 
About an hour delayed, the door was opened, and all candidates run to their table.
 
The results: All my Lingual cases passed the exam.
 
Then a lot of colleagues came to me and said “Hey Toshi, you never fail. If you fail, who can pass?”
However I think I am just an Orthodontist in tiny local city, so I am very happy that I could pass it.
 

(Taking pictures in the room was not allowed so I took it in front of the room.)
 
I deeply appreciate my patients who signed the application.
There are some orthodontists who want to apply for JOB but can’t because they can’t get patients’ agreement.
I am very very happy, and I am reassured that the Patients-Doctors reliability is well established in my office.
 
I have tried a lot of exams with Lingual Orthodontics not aiming at being famous but just for my treatment to be evaluated by the third parties.
I think I could prove that the quality of my Lingual Orthodontic Treatments are kept quite high.
 
After leaving the JOB room, I headed to the Main Hall and heard Dr.Mulligan’s “Who does your thinking? You or your appliance?”
He is a great Orthodontist, I respect him all the time since I graduated the University.
I want to be an Orthodontist like him in future.
 

(Photography is prohibited during the lecture. This is right after the lecture, I took it in confidence, sorry.)
 
There were many excellent Poster Presentations about Root resorption, Osteocrasts, Relapse, Affects of Fluoride against tooth movements, Ligation-Friction, etc..
 
The next JOS meeting will be held in Nagoya Convention Center, 18 to 20 November, 2011.
 
 
Postscript:
About JOB, there is a false website made by  “The Japanese Orthodontic Specialist Directory Production Committee”.
The website has confusing explanations as if it is posted by JOS, but this “Committee” is no relation to JOS.