Campaign on Orthodontics launched

Bangalore, Aug 2 (UNI) The Indian Orthodontics Society (IOS) has launched a campaign to create awareness on the importance of 'orthodontics' in the country.

Briefing newspersons here today, IOS President N R Krishnaswamy said the first week of October would be observed as the ''Orthodontic Week'' and school children, especially those studying in government schools, would be given free consultation. Even private Orthodontists would be asked to provide free consultation to the people as part of the programme during the week, he added.

Mr Krishnaswamy said over 70 per cent of the population faced orthodontic problems, caused mainly by genetic factor.

Replying to questions, he said the society had over 1,700 Orthodontists as its members. There were 450 Orthodontists in Karnataka of whom 250 were practising in Bangalore. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had more number of Orthodontists in the country, he added.

Admitting that the treatment was expensive, he said it was mainly due to the use of imported state-of-the-art equipment and materials.

However, the cost would come down once the equipment was indigenously manufactured.

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