[History and development of Chinese orthodontics]

Orthodontics in China has experienced two important stages. At its early stage from 1950's to 1970's orthodontics was a division of prosthodontic department in China. There were 3 top professors in this field, who got partly training at one time or another in USA and returned to China working in Beijing Medical College, the Fourth Military Medical University and Shanghai Second Medical College. Among them, Professor Mao of Beijing Medical College was regarded as the father of Chinese Orthodontics. Removable appliance was the main tool at that stage and Prof.Mao brought forward Mao's Classification of Malocclusion which is still used in China. The rapid developing stage began in the 1980's when China opened its door to the world. More and more orthodontists got further training abroad and brought back advanced techniques since then. Up to now, we have already had more than one thousand of orthodontic specialists and established its own organization--the Chinese Orthodontic Society (COS), which holds domestic orthodontic meetings and organize its members to attend international meetings. Right now, almost all advanced techniques in diagnosis and treatment are adopted in China, including 3D imaging, self-ligating bracket appliance, and implant anchorage. Chinese orthodontists have started to present or publish papers in international meetings and journals and more than that, started to develop new appliances, such as Driving-Force Straight Wire Appliance, which has shown advantages in treating skeletal Class III malocclusion.