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The British Orthodontic Conference (BOC) – the only UK event bringing together the entire orthodontic community – takes place from Wednesday 24 September to Friday 26 September, and this year it will be hosted in the UK’s South West, at the state-of-the art ICC in Wales, for the first time.
Guest speakers will include the distinguished geneticist and professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London (UCL) Professor Hugh Montgomery, who is renowned for his ground-breaking discovery of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, which influences physical fitness and endurance. He will discuss how genetic factors influence craniofacial development and anomalies, while potentially predicting their susceptibility to conditions such as malocclusion. It is anticipated that in the future this level of detail will be used to inform early interventions and personalised treatment plans in line with patients’ genetic profiles.
Also making a keynote address is neuroscientist and Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL) Professor Sophie Scott (pictured). She is internationally recognised for her work exploring ways people produce, perceive, and emotionally respond to human voices. Conference delegates will learn more about the science of communication and how it is so much more than a transfer of information, but also about conveying empathy and forming and managing relationships.
Professor Scott’s research into speech perception should have particular relevance for orthodontists. Clinician-patient communication is at the heart of good practice, especially when it comes to treatment involving orthodontic appliances which can alter speech.
There’s also growing recognition within the sector about the importance of inter-disciplinary thinking. As digital technologies reshape how orthodontists diagnose and deliver care, the ‘human’ side of practice – communication, empathy, and behavioural influence remain critical. Professor Scott’s keynote will speak directly to this balance.
Joining them will be Consultant Orthodontist, podcast host and researcher Mr Farooq Ahmed who will present new insights into AI in diagnosis, digital learning and the evolving identity of the modern orthodontist. Expect thoughtful debate, practical ideas and a fresh take on the future of the profession.
Mr Ahmed’s talk will be grounded in recent research, including a study he led comparing the diagnostic accuracy of AI systems with human clinicians. The findings, published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics,1 sparked discussion around the reliability of machine learning and where the boundaries should lie.
Their presentations will form part of three days of thought-provoking lectures and discussions delivered by a -fter line-up of expert, national and international clinical and business development speakers covering a broad spectrum of progressive topics.
A range of practice development and special sessions for clinic support staff will run in parallel. The Conference Studio Theatre will enable delegates to get up close and personal with speakers as part of interactive Q&A sessions, plus behind-the-scenes discussions.
The BOC is also the setting for the UK’s largest-ever Orthodontic Exhibition, featuring next-generation treatment and practice workflow technology and techniques. An in-exhibition trade theatre will play host to commercial presentations, demonstrations, product previews and clinical hints and tips. Wednesday morning will feature extended workshop sessions curated by the BOC’s trade and commercial partners on a wide range of topics.
For more information visit https://bos.org.uk/boc2025/.