Originally formed in 1927, the ASO was reorganised in 1950, establishing state branches and an affiliation with the Australian Dental Association (ADA).
The ASO's inaugural Congress was held in 1961. The ASO now holds a Congress every two years with the next one being held in 2024 in Adelaide.
The ASO Foundation for Orthodontic Research and Education (ASOFRE) was developed by a bequest from the ASO's first President, Dr Stanley Wilkinson. The Foundation runs a members' Foundation Meeting in non-Congress years. The main activity of the Foundation is supporting research and education in Australian Universities.
The Australian Orthodontic Board was established in March 1993 with the aim of offering a peer review certification program for specialists. This certification is a voluntary process with an emphasis on life-long continuing education. In 2006, by agreement with the New Zealand Orthodontic Society, the Board was renamed the Australasian Orthodontic Board (AOB) to allow NZ and other approved overseas orthodontists to take part in the AOB.
The ASO publishes the Australian Orthodontic Journal (AOJ) containing original research papers, clinical reports, book reviews, abstracts from other journals and other material of interest to orthodontists and continuing education.
In 2004, the ASO established the Give a Smile™ initiative through which ASO members volunteer to treat patients selected from public dental hospital waiting lists throughout Australia.
Read more about the History of the ASO: A Brace of Orthodontists
Dr W Stanley Wilkinson
Founder of the ASO