POSTURAL ORTHODONTICS
ADVANCED COURSE & MENTORING PROGRAMME
🔴 Complete Phase 1, 2, and 3 at Your Own Pace 🔴
40 Hours of Scientific CPD Training • Available Instantly Online
Please note: Before you're eligible to apply and enrol in the Advanced Course, you need to complete the '2-Day Introduction to Postural Orthodontics' Online Course. Register for the intro course here.
POSTURAL ORTHODONTICS
ADVANCED COURSE &
MENTORING PROGRAMME
🔴 Complete Phase 1, 2, and 3 🔴 
at Your Own Pace
40 Hours of Scientific CPD Training
Available Instantly Online
Please note: Before you're eligible to apply and enrol in the Advanced Course, you need to complete the '2-Day Introduction to Postural Orthodontics' Online Course. Register for the intro course here.
VIDEO SUMMARY of phase 1...
(PLEASE NOTE, ONLY THE RECORDED VERSION IS AVAILABLE NOW)
The Advanced Course is by Application Only 
To Apply for Phase 1, 2, and 3, please click the button below.
It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete the application form. After submitting your answers, Dr Wong will review them and we'll get back to you via email within 24-48 hours.
Topic Summary: All the first 3 Phases of the Advanced Course
BONUS MARKETING COURSE (us$2,997)
Free Bonus as Part of Phase 1 of The Advanced Course
video SUMMARY of phase 2...
0
 Advanced issue found
▲
 
(PLEASE NOTE, ONLY THE RECORDED VERSION IS AVAILABLE NOW)
VIDEO SUMMARY of phase 3...
0
 Advanced issue found
▲
 
(PLEASE NOTE, ONLY THE RECORDED VERSION IS AVAILABLE NOW)
1-DAY CLINICAL:  If you can’t attend in person, you can get the 5-hour recording of a clinical session (with Dr Wong working on patients at his practice), Plus an Additional 2-hour Live Q&A via Zoom (in a small group of 12 people max.)
PLEASE NOTE: The recordings of the Advanced Course will be available for at least 2 years 
(or for as long as we will be teaching).
PLEASE NOTE: The recordings of the Advanced Course Phase 1, 2, & 3 will be available for at least 2 years 
(or for as long as we will be teaching).
PRICING SUMMARY
REGISTration options
The Advanced Course Phase 1, 2, & 3 is by Application Only
Before you enrol in Phase 1, 2, & 3, you need to apply here. It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete the application form. After submitting your answers,  Dr Wong will review them and get back to you via email within 24-48 hours.

PHASE 1
RECORDING OF LIVE STREAM
 (Which Originally Took Place 
on 17th May 2020)
 
 
  
 
  
 
$1,100
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
  
 
 
 
PHASE 1: RECORDING OF 17TH MAY LIVESTREAM
PRACTICE MANUAL (PHASE 1 ONLY)
2 BONUS LIVE Q&A SESSION (SAT 30 MAY & 13 JUNE, 10am-12pm, melbourne time)
STAR PRODUCER MASTERY MARKETING COURSE (CHECK IT OUT) ^
 
PHASE 2
RECORDING OF LIVE stream
 (Which Originally Took Place
on 28th June & 26th July 2020)
 
 
  
 
 
  
$1,650
0
 Advanced issue found
▲
 
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
 
 
 
 
PHASE 2: REc. OF 28 JuN & 26 jul livestreams
PRACTICE MANUAL (PHASE 2)
BONUS LIVE Q&AS ON 3 SATURDAYS, 12TH JUL, 16TH AUG, 30TH AUG, 9AM – 11AM (MEL. TIME)
 (NOTE: THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 1 WEEK OF THE LIVE STREAM)
 
PHASE 1, 2, & 3
 
online RECORDed course

 
  
 
 
A$5,500
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
or 2 payments of
 A$3,300
  
 
​Recording of phase 1, 2, & 3 courses
​Recording of 1-day Clinical (Not recorded yet)
access to 5 next scheduled calls 6 x 2-hour Q&A Zoom MENTORING Calls with Dr Wong Over 3 Months WHERE he critiqued over 55 case studies SUBMITTED BY STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED THE MENTORING PROGRAM LIVE (Written notes and via live Zoom calls with students)
​PRACTICE MANUAL (PHASE 1, 2, 3)
BOnus Marketing Course: STAR Producer Mastery *
40 HOURS OF SCIENTIFIC CPD
20 HOURS OF non-SCIENTIFIC CPD
Closed Facebook COmmunity
HIPAA Environment where you can submit your cases for review by dr Wong

PHASE 3
LIVE CLINICAL 
& 3 MonTHS OF MENTORING
 
 
 rEGULAR $3,850
  
EARLY BIRD
(UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER)
  
 $3,300
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
SAVE $550
 SAVE 14%
 
 
​1-Day Practice Visit at Dr Wong's Clinic (A$1500 value)*
​Recording of the ~5-Hour Clinical Session with Dr Wong Working on His Patients
​Live Post-Clinical 2-Hour Q&A Call via Zoom with Dr Wong (in a Small Group of 12 People Max-Will Be Recorded As Well)
​Mini-Mentorship Program: 6 x 2-hour Live Q&A Zoom Calls with Dr Wong Over 3 Months Starting Sunday, 13th September, 9am-11am Melbourne Time (Will Be Recorded As Well)
​Review of Your Patients' Case Records by Dr Wong During the Q&A Calls (You Must Keep Your Patients' Identity Private)
​HIPAA Compliant Online Group Environment Where Dr Wong Will Respond to Cases and Questions Each Week in Addition to the Live Q&A Sessions (Which Will Take Place Every 2 Weeks)
​Practice Manual (Phase 3)
​​19.5 Hours of Scientific CPD
 
PHASE 3
RECORDING OF CLINICAL
& 3 MONTHS OF MENTORING
 
 
 REGULAR $2,750
  
EARLY BIRD 
(UNTIL 7TH SEPTEMBER)
  
$2,475
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
 SAVE $275
SAVe 10%
  
 
​Recording of the ~5-Hour Clinical Session with Dr Wong Working on His Patients
​Live Post-Clinical 2-Hour Q&A Call via Zoom with Dr Wong (in a Small Group of 12 People Max-Will Be Recorded As Well)
​Mini-Mentorship Program: 6 x 2-hour Live Q&A Zoom Calls with Dr Wong Over 3 Months Starting Sunday, 13th September, 9am-11am Melbourne Time (Will Be Recorded As Well)
​Review of Your Patients' Case Records by Dr Wong During the Q&A Calls (You Must Keep Your Patients' Identity Private)
​HIPAA Compliant Online Group Environment Where Dr Wong Will Respond to Cases and Questions Each Week in Addition to the Live Q&A Sessions (Which Will Take Place Every 2 Weeks)
​PRACTICE MANUAL (PHASE 3)
​​19.5 HOURS OF SCIENTIFIC CPD

  
VIRTUAL
Live Stream: phase 1
(Includes Event Recording)
 
REGULAR: $1,540
  
EARLY BIRD
(UNTIL 31st MAY)
  
$1,320
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
Save $220
Save 14%
(Off Regular Price)
 
phase 1: Sunday 17th May livestream (9-5pm)
PHASE 1: RECORDING OF 17TH MAY LIVESTREAM
PRactice Manual (Phase 1 OnlY)
2 BONUS Q&A SESSIONS (30 MAY & 13 JUNE - RECORDED ALSO)
STAR Producer Mastery (Marketing course***
  
RECORDING
OF THE LIVE stream
(PHASE 1)
 
REGULAR: $1,100
  
EARLY BIRD
(UNTIL 31ST MAY)
  
$990
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
Save $110
Save 10%
(Off Regular Price)
 
PHASE 1: Recording of 17th May Livestream
PRACTICE MANUAl (PHASE 1 ONLY)
2 BONUS Q&A SESSIONS (3O MAY & 13 JUNE - RECORDED ALSO
STAR PRODUCER MASTERY (MARKETING COURSE***
(Note: The recordings will be available within 1 week of the live stream)

PHASE 2
Live Stream from Melbourne
28th June & 26th July (8:30am-5:30pm)
(Includes Event Recording)
 
 
  
 
 
  
$2,310
(prices in AUD & inc. GST) 

  
 
 
 
 
PHASE 2: Sun. 28th JUNE & SUN. 26th JULy LIVESTREAMS (8:30AM-5:30PM, Melbourne Time)
RECORDING OF 28 JUN & 26 JUL LIVESTREAMS
PRACTICE MANUAL (PHASE 2)
BONUS Live Q&As On 3 Saturdays, 12th Jul, 16th Aug, 30th Aug, 9am – 11am (Mel. Time)
PLEASE NOTE: The recordings of the Advanced Course will be available for at least 2 years 
(or for as long as we will be teaching).
* YOU WILL GET ACCESS TO THE BONUS MARKETING COURSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENROLLING TO PHASE 1, 2, 3. ALL OF OUR COURSES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN ONE PLACE. (YOU CAN Review the Marketing course here: STARPRODUCERSECRETS.COM)

The registration buttons are temporarily deactivated as we're currently updating our website. You'll be able to register in few hours. Thank you!

REGISTRATION BUTTONS TEMPORARILY DEACTIVATED DUE TO UPGRADING OF THE WEBSITE. WE WILL BE BACK ONLINE SOON. THANK YOU!

The registration buttons are temporarily deactivated as we're currently updating our website. You'll be able to register in few hours. Thank you!

FAQs
What are the learning objectives of Postural Orthodontics?
  • Evaluating facial growth patterns and a rational choice of diagnostic and therapeutic orthodontic treatment procedures in the developing malocclusion
  • Minimizing skeletal, dentoalveolar and muscular problems, by the end of the transition to the permanent dentition.
  • Simplifying and/or shorting treatment time for later corrective orthodontics 
Why learn Postural Orthodontics & the GOPex Method?
  • Improves facial harmony
  • Creates room for crowded teeth & increases tongue space
  • Reduces airway collapsibility
  • ​​Stabilizes orthodontic corrections
  • ​Helping the largely ignored market of 3-11 year olds
  • ​Makes it possible to have straight teeth naturally
Historically, orthodontic literature rarely advocates for Phase 1 therapies because very few have shown improvement over teenage fixed appliance protocols. 

Postural Orthodontics and the GOPex exercises is a new, innovative way of early intervention orthodontics that has been highly effective. Our approach, based on Orthotropic principles and foundations, addresses malocclusion based wholly on clinically trialled & proven methods. 

And when it comes to sleep disorder breathing and vital function health, new research points out the many great benefits of targeted early intervention—which is precisely the reason for our methodology.
Why the GOPex Method?
GOPex (Good Oral Posture exercises) are powerful and effective in improving airway disorders and compliance issues.

That’s because they strike at the very root of malocclusion. 

They are short (10-15 minutes), simple exercises that are easily incorporated into the family’s daily routine, truly helping patients change their habits—unlike the majority of myology programmes. 

We have also developed our GOPEX App. to optimize compliance. Using the app, parents can get direct feedback from the practitioner on their child’s exercise techniques.

Please download for free our GOPex book to learn more. Or you can purchase a copy on Amazon here.
Why the Postural Orthodontics system?
Postural Orthodontics is a unique approach to early intervention utilizing existing techniques (Orthotropic principles and appliances) and new methods and protocols that are evidence-based and results oriented.

Functional Orthopedics has been practised for almost 100 years. Most orthodontic systems use some form of functional expansion appliance, incorporating orofacial myology. 

Our orthodontic profession theorizes that bone growth can be stimulated by functional activity. Accordingly, conventional phase 1 appliances & exercises leverage functional movement, hoping to stimulate jaw growth.

But these treatments haven’t been proven effective in creating substantial, lasting changes. 

In fact, over the last 40 years of clinical trials, we have never been able to show significant clinical changes through any of the traditional phase 1 treatment systems. 

They move teeth around a bit better but don’t help the jaw to grow better.

The GOPex method primarily assists in improving the rest positions of the jaws & muscles. It’s considered posturally-focused, rather than functionally focused. This is a critical distinction because body growth happens only at postural rest, not in functional motion.

Over the past 10 years of research in clinical practice, we have generated hundreds of case studies showing significant results. 

The first 145 cases have been accepted for research evaluation at the University of Alberta, University of Valencia and Autonomous National University of Mexico.

Preliminary findings presented at the Summer meeting of Spanish orthodontics society 2019 by Prof José Luis Gandía - Franco from the University of Valencia in Spain, showed more than promising results.

We compared our Postural Orthodontics method with the standard twin-bloc approach (the most popular functional appliance) in a class-2, division-1 malocclusion case. 

We had 3 to 7-fold improvements over what twin-bloc could provide.

As expected, the functional appliances only affected the dental alveolar bone, with no skeletal change. Whereas our method resulted in improvements of 3.46 degrees in ANB (vs 1.37) and 1.92 degrees of reduction in Y-axis (vs .26). 
Is there an Advanced Course in Postural Orthodontics?
Yes! Learn more about our Advanced Course here.
Each presenter has a different philosophy and technique so it becomes very confusing having to decide who is "more' right than the other and whose philosophy/technique to "buy into". What was your journey into Orthotropics and how is Postural Orthodontics different from other early intervention courses and techniques?
I was first introduced to early intervention orthodontics through the Myobrace organisation, training with John Flutter and Chris Farrell in the mid 2000s. I then studied with Steve Olmos on TMD/Sleep and then sidetracked onto ALF and Cranial osteopathy in Canada and the US. I trained then in a very comprehensive traditional orthodontic continuing education programme but concurrently developed my relationship with John Mew. I subsequently brought Prof. Mew over to Australia to teach.

I then began to travel on the CE train throughout the world, on a tight shoes string budget living in the furthest point on Earth from the North American and European learning centres. 

Excited as I was, it quickly became apparent my time with John, Mike and Bill Hang in California allowed me entry into Orthotropics but with a challenging map to the exit finish. John was always encouraging but very much a "You’re a smart young man Simon, I'm sure you will work it out yourself."

Eventually through many years of trial and error I did work it out but I saw how everyone else who attempted this fell into the journey potholes and to the very last count, to this day after 5 decades of John teaching, there are few who run full time Orthotropic practices. Whether it be the pressure from the local Orthodontic communities or just an inability to work through the mess that is the middle point in Orthotropics, few have had the endurance or skill to achieve their goals. 

About 5 years ago I realised my system of treating patients was working, consistently, predictably and profitably. I had documented my cases from the very beginning and realised my success rate was unlike anyone else in the Orthotropic community. I developed guidelines for myself and my intake screening process that loaded the chances of achieving control of vertical growth in my favour. I shifted my practice and opened up a full time Orthotropic clinic and began the process of establishing clinical research into Orthotropics.

Soon after, through my collaboration with Dr Sandra Kahn (who co-authored GOPex with me) I started teaching, initially restricting my student intake to experienced Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists in Europe and was allowed to create a module in the Orthodontic post graduate programme at Uni Valencia. This paved the way for formal research in Spain and now Mexico and Canada where I have residents doing their thesis on my Biobloc Orthotropic (140+ consecutive) case series. The editors of Angle Orthodontics and American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics have shown interest and there hopefully will be publications in the near future, to validate John's work.
---> CONTINUE READING NEXT COLUMN --->
My experience in teaching in Europe has highlighted how different Orthotropics is from any form of Orthodontics. I realised that success would only be possible with a complete back to basics education process with studies in understanding growth literature and controlled "hand holding" supervision of students. This year I made the decision to roll out such a programme – which I simply call ‘Postural Orthodontics’ that would take students down the path of Orthotropics but only via a safe passage through evidence based Orthodontic avenues. 

The programme I devised would build foundation over a number of years. Beginning first, using John's Tropic Premise to modify accepted early intervention orthodontic therapies then developing experience using appropriately selected cases and well designed and produced appliances.

My programme is different to all the other early intervention courses. Every early intervention programme I've attended has always pressured one overriding message of; "You can do it! You should do it!!You owe it to the world to do it!!!" (Something along those lines anyway.)

My goal is the opposite and is to throttle down all my students' enthusiasm, to minimize poor choices in case selection and setting parameters that would only allow treatment to provide successful outcomes, EVERY SINGLE TIME. The discipline needed for patients to succeed is always overshadowed and pales into insignificance compared to the discipline the doctor needs to say "NO" to the cases that are beyond their capacity.

The programme I have created, is in multiple parts, an initial module of 2-day Introduction (with an extra 9 hours of Q&A sessions that have been recorded as well) followed by a further 1 day refinement, our ‘Advanced Course Phase 1’ discussion on case planning, then Phase 2 which includes 2 more days with a theory component, guest lectures from ENT and MaxFac surgeons and then a Phase 3 which is 3-months of fortnightly mentorship via group livestream (2-hours) and live 1-day clinical time in my practice and a further 1-day laboratory (which is recorded if you can’t physically attend.) 

In order to provide the protection we all need now with the world pandemic, this training is now also available livestream and recording. I think it may be helpful to you to support you in your journey and I hope you will consider allowing me to share what I have learnt. 
How I got into teaching and the Forwardontics connection...
The path I took on my journey as a student of Orthotropics is well-trodden with my teachers the Mews and Bill Hang lighting and guiding the way forward. However, as dentists who venture into the land of early intervention orthodontics, we all seem to travel the same stretch of road. I suspect our experiences and lives play out with many similarities.

We walk along winding path, seemingly on our own, in isolated loneliness.

Many of us begin because we aren’t happy with how our children finish their treatments. We are unhappy as we have the underlying feeling, there should be "more". We are told though by those in the know; "That’s all there is folks. The hand you are dealt with is what you have to play with."

Hence we live in despondence. 

So when an outlier claims, they have "more", our interests perk. We stop, we listen, we watch and we are intrigued. We think; "Well it certainly looks like they are doing "more"! What if there is more?"

We look around and see the gathering of some of our peers. Like-minded, kindred spirits. Other dentists unfulfilled and looking for more. And we join these groups and immerse in the wonder of another way.

These teachers orate. They reveal the secrets of their discoveries. They fascinate. They show success. 

They encourage participation. 

And thus drawn are we. And in we follow. And we find purpose. 
Enthusiasms that we did not even know was within us and passions that ignite a new beginning.

Yet each and every one of us, within a blink of time, looks around and realise we are again alone. 

We start many cases but finish so few the ways we envisaged we would. The children whose faces continue to fall and fade from the ideal we promised haunts us. Questions arise and are sort from and by us but the answers remain elusive. 

We have all lived this. Yet I found fortune as on my way, I encountered another journeyman. 

Dr Sandra Kahn was like no one who was part of my normal sphere of life. A seasoned and accomplished Orthodontist based in a different country, living a different life, yet a traveller on the very same road, tracking on exactly the same path. 

At the point, I met Sandra I had already begun to develop my own methodology of care. It seemed I was already achieving a level of consistency in my treatment outcomes that should have created confidence but by nature, I am one always plagued by doubt. Immobilized by indecision and so locked in self-isolation.
---> CONTINUE READING NEXT COLUMN --->
Sandra is my counterpart in character and personality. My two talents are the ability to recognise what is important and the capability of taking the complex and explaining it simply. Hers is the gift of drawing together the talented with the influential.

Together we formed an unlikely partnership and took GOPex (Good Oral Posture Exercises), a simple evolution of my grandmother’s culture of manners and presentation and formalized it into technology App that has the potential to remind all generations to come of what is possible… 

…of how we are meant to behave and who we are meant to be. 

Sandra took what was just a backwater experiment in my tiny clinic Down Under and launched it into the heart of the community of Europe’s oldest Orthodontic University and then onwards to those institutions of influence around the world. 

From my unwavering belief in John’s Tropic Premise and her decisive support of my contribution to our profession we launched her new model of primary dentition early intervention; Forwardontics. 

My focus has always been narrow-minded, myopic and techno-orientated. In the real world, this translates into; "Precisely arriving at a dead-end". 

My purpose was to travel John Mew’s road. Staying true and following without deviation. A seemingly noble endeavour but in practice, just another trip to a destination that no one else knows exists, nor cares about.

I could not see this of course so Sandra created Forwardontics to carriage the engine I had developed and transport our children into a future all of us deserve to arrive at.

What I do, take 8-year-olds who have grown in malformation and laboriously, painstakingly, unrelentingly, through long-suffering force out a semblance of harmony, has no appeal in today’s world. 

Forwardontics takes the egocentric doctor out of the equation of a child’s life and returns the responsibility of a child’s upbringing into the hands of those who truly care for their wellbeing, their parents. 

Sandra will revolutionize the lives of your children by refocusing your love into uplifting their posture in spirit. 

Postural Orthodontics is just my bridge to release myself of my attachment to my comfort zone of hard discipline. My way instils an underlay of strength but it has distinct tones of harshness to it and that folks, is a lonely existence and indeed not for everyone. 

At 51, I am who I am. No time soon will I be giving up my "carrot and stick" but for those who look to me for guidance, be glad the Forwardontics connection paves the path that encourages all of us to find our way home.
Left to right, back row: Prof. Jose Luis Gandia, Franco, Dr. Bill Hang, Dr. Mike Mew, Dr. Simon Wong, Dr. German Ramirez, Prof. Dror Aizenbud, Dr. Kevin Boyd

Left to right, front row: Dr. Sandra Kahn, Prof. John Mew, 
Dr. Maria Jose Munoz, Ms Esther Gokhale 
Left to right: Dr. Mike Mew,Dr. Simon Wong, Dr. Bill Hang, Prof. John Mew
Leading Sponsor
www.thedentalsolution.com.au
FAQs
What are the learning objectives of the Postural Orthodontics?
  • Evaluating facial growth patterns and a rational choice of diagnostic and therapeutic orthodontic treatment procedures in the developing malocclusion
  • Minimizing skeletal, dentoalveolar and muscular problems, by the end of the transition to the permanent dentition.
  • Simplifying and/or shorting treatment time for later corrective orthodontics 
Why learn Postural Orthodontics and the GOPex Method?
  • Improves facial harmony
  • Creates room for crowded teeth & increases tongue space
  • Reduces airway collapsibility
  • ​​Stabilizes orthodontic corrections
  • ​Helping the largely ignored market of 3-11 year olds
  • ​Makes it possible to have straight teeth naturally
Historically, orthodontic literature rarely advocates for Phase 1 therapies because very few have shown improvement over teenage fixed appliance protocols. 

Postural Orthodontics and the GOPex exercises is a new, innovative way of early intervention orthodontics that actually works. Our approach addresses malocclusion based wholly on clinically trialled & proven methods. 

And when it comes to sleep disorder breathing and vital function health, new research points out the many great benefits of targeted early intervention—which is precisely the reason for our methodology.
Why the GOPex Method?
GOPex (Good Oral Posture exercises) are powerful and effective in improving airway disorders and compliance issues.

That’s because they strike at the very root of malocclusion. 

They are short (10-15 minutes), simple exercises that are easily incorporated into the family’s daily routine, truly helping patients change their habits—unlike the majority of myology programmes. 

We have also developed our GOPEX App. to optimize compliance. Using the app, parents can get direct feedback from the practitioner on their child’s exercise techniques.

Please download for free our GOPex book to learn more. Or you can purchase a copy on Amazon here.
Why the Postural Orthodontics system?
Postural Orthodontics is a different philosophical approach utilizing existing and new techniques that are evidence-based and results oriented.

Functional Orthopedics has been practised for almost 100 years. Most orthodontic systems use some form of functional expansion appliance, incorporating orofacial myology. 

Our orthodontic profession theorizes that bone growth can be stimulated by functional activity. Accordingly, conventional phase 1 appliances & exercises leverage functional movement, hoping to stimulate jaw growth.

But these treatments haven’t been proven effective in creating substantial, lasting changes. 

In fact, over the last 40 years of clinical trials, we have never been able to show significant clinical changes through any of the traditional phase 1 treatment systems. 

They move teeth around a bit better but don’t help the jaw to grow better.

The GOPex method primarily assists in improving the rest positions of the jaws & muscles. It’s considered posturally-focused, rather than functionally focused. This is a critical distinction because body growth happens only at postural rest, not in functional motion.

Over the past 10 years of research in clinical practice, we have generated hundreds of case studies showing significant results. 

The first 145 cases have been accepted for research evaluation at the University of Alberta, University of Valencia and Autonomous National University of Mexico.

Preliminary findings presented at the Summer meeting of Spanish orthodontics society 2019 by Prof José Luis Gandía - Franco from the University of Valencia in Spain, showed more than promising results.

We compared our method with the standard twin-bloc approach (the most popular functional appliance) in a class-2, division-1 malocclusion case. 

We had 3 to 7-fold improvements over what twin-bloc could provide.

As expected, the functional appliances only affected the dental alveolar bone, with no skeletal change. Whereas our method resulted in improvements of 3.46 degrees in ANB (vs 1.37) and 1.92 degrees of reduction in Y-axis (vs .26). 
Each presenter has a different philosophy and technique so it becomes very confusing having to decide who is "more' right than the other and whose philosophy/technique to "buy into". What was your journey into Orthotropics and how is Postural Orthodontics different from other early intervention courses and techniques?
I was first introduced to early intervention orthodontics through the Myobrace organisation, training with John Flutter and Chris Farrell in the mid 2000s. I then studied with Steve Olmos on TMD/Sleep and then sidetracked onto ALF and Cranial osteopathy in Canada and the US. I trained then in a very comprehensive traditional orthodontic continuing education programme but concurrently developed my relationship with John Mew. I subsequently brought Prof. Mew over to Australia to teach.

I then began to travel on the CE train throughout the world, on a tight shoes string budget living in the furthest point on Earth from the North American and European learning centres.  

Excited as I was, it quickly became apparent my time with John, Mike and Bill Hang in California allowed me entry into Orthotropics but with a challenging map to the exit finish. John was always encouraging but very much a "You’re a smart young man Simon, I'm sure you will work it out yourself." 

Eventually through many years of trial and error I did work it out but I saw how everyone else who attempted this fell into the journey potholes and to the very last count, to this day after 5 decades of John teaching, there are few who run full time Orthotropic practices. Whether it be the pressure from the local Orthodontic communities or just an inability to work through the mess that is the middle point in Orthotropics, few have had the endurance or skill to achieve their goals.  

About 5 years ago I realised my system of treating patients was working, consistently, predictably and profitably. I had documented my cases from the very beginning and realised my success rate was unlike anyone else in the Orthotropic community. I developed guidelines for myself and my intake screening process that loaded the chances of achieving control of vertical growth in my favour. I shifted my practice and opened up a full time Orthotropic clinic and began the process of establishing clinical research into Orthotropics. 

Soon after, I myself started teaching, initially restricting my student intake to experienced Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists in Europe and was allowed to create a module in the Orthodontic post graduate programme at Uni Valencia. This paved the way for formal research in Spain and now Mexico and Canada where I have residents doing their thesis on my Biobloc Orthotropic (140+ consecutive) case series. The editors of Angle Orthodontics and American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics have shown interest and there hopefully will be publications in the near future, to validate John's work. 

My experience in teaching in Europe has highlighted how different Orthotropics is from any form of Orthodontics. I realised that success would only be possible with a complete back to basics education process with studies in understanding growth literature and controlled "hand holding" supervision of students. This year I made the decision to roll out such a programme – which I simply call ‘Postural Orthodontics’ that would take students down the path of Orthotropics but only via a safe passage through evidence based Orthodontic avenues. 

The programme I devised would build foundation over a number of years. Beginning first, using John's Tropic Premise to modify accepted early intervention orthodontic therapies then developing experience using appropriately selected cases and well designed and produced appliances. 
My programme is different to all the other early intervention courses. Every early intervention programme I've attended has always pressured one overriding message of; "You can do it! You should do it!!You owe it to the world to do it!!!" (Something along those lines anyway.) 

My goal is the opposite and is to throttle down all my students' enthusiasm, to minimize poor choices in case selection and setting parameters that would only allow treatment to provide successful outcomes, EVERY SINGLE TIME. The discipline needed for patients to succeed is always overshadowed and pales into insignificance compared to the discipline the doctor needs to say "NO" to the cases that are beyond their capacity. 

The programme I have created, is in multiple parts, an initial module of 2-day Introduction (with an extra 9 hours of Q&A sessions that have been recorded as well) followed by a further 1 day refinement, our ‘Advanced Course Phase 1’ discussion on case planning, then Phase 2 which includes 2 more days with a theory component, guest lectures from ENT and MaxFac surgeons and then a Phase 3 which is 3-months of fortnightly mentorship via group livestream (2-hours) and live 1-day clinical time in my practice and a further 1-day laboratory (which is recorded if you can’t physically attend.) 

In order to provide the protection we all need now with the world pandemic, this training is now also available livestream and recording. I think it may be helpful to you to support you in your journey and I hope you will consider allowing me to share what I have learnt. 
Is there an Advanced Course in Postural Orthodontics?
Yes! Learn more about our Advanced Course here.
How I got into teaching and the Forwardontics connection...
The path I took on my journey as a student of Orthotropics is well-trodden with my teachers the Mews and Bill Hang lighting and guiding the way forward. However, as dentists who venture into the land of early intervention orthodontics, we all seem to travel the same stretch of road. I suspect our experiences and lives play out with many similarities.

We walk along winding path, seemingly on our own, in isolated loneliness.

Many of us begin because we aren’t happy with how our children finish their treatments. We are unhappy as we have the underlying feeling, there should be "more". We are told though by those in the know; "That’s all there is folks. The hand you are dealt with is what you have to play with."

Hence we live in despondence. 

So when an outlier claims, they have "more", our interests perk. We stop, we listen, we watch and we are intrigued. We think; "Well it certainly looks like they are doing "more"! What if there is more?"

We look around and see the gathering of some of our peers. Like-minded, kindred spirits. Other dentists unfulfilled and looking for more. And we join these groups and immerse in the wonder of another way.

These teachers orate. They reveal the secrets of their discoveries. They fascinate. They show success. 

They encourage participation. 

And thus drawn are we. And in we follow. And we find purpose. 
Enthusiasms that we did not even know was within us and passions that ignite a new beginning.

Yet each and every one of us, within a blink of time, looks around and realise we are again alone. 

We start many cases but finish so few the ways we envisaged we would. The children whose faces continue to fall and fade from the ideal we promised haunts us. Questions arise and are sort from and by us but the answers remain elusive. 

We have all lived this. Yet I found fortune as on my way, I encountered another journeyman. 

Dr Sandra Kahn was like no one who was part of my normal sphere of life. A seasoned and accomplished Orthodontist based in a different country, living a different life, yet a traveller on the very same road, tracking on exactly the same path. 

At the point, I met Sandra I had already begun to develop my own methodology of care. It seemed I was already achieving a level of consistency in my treatment outcomes that should have created confidence but by nature, I am one always plagued by doubt. Immobilized by indecision and so locked in self-isolation.

Sandra is my counterpart in character and personality. My two talents are the ability to recognise what is important and the capability of taking the complex and explaining it simply. Hers is the gift of drawing together the talented with the influential. 

Together we formed an unlikely partnership and took GOPex (Good Oral Posture Exercises), a simple evolution of my grandmother’s culture of manners and presentation and formalized it into technology App that has the potential to remind all generations to come of what is possible…  

…of how we are meant to behave and who we are meant to be. 

Sandra took what was just a backwater experiment in my tiny clinic Down Under and launched it into the heart of the community of Europe’s oldest Orthodontic University and then onwards to those institutions of influence around the world.

From my unwavering belief in John’s Tropic Premise and her decisive support of my contribution to our profession we launched her new model of primary dentition early intervention; Forwardontics.

My focus has always been narrow-minded, myopic and techno-orientated. In the real world, this translates into; "Precisely arriving at a dead-end". 

My purpose was to travel John Mew’s road. Staying true and following without deviation. A seemingly noble endeavour but in practice, just another trip to a destination that no one else knows exists, nor cares about. 

I could not see this of course so Sandra created Forwardontics to carriage the engine I had developed and transport our children into a future all of us deserve to arrive at.

What I do, take 8-year-olds who have grown in malformation and laboriously, painstakingly, unrelentingly, through long-suffering force out a semblance of harmony, has no appeal in today’s world.

Forwardontics takes the egocentric doctor out of the equation of a child’s life and returns the responsibility of a child’s upbringing into the hands of those who truly care for their wellbeing, their parents.

Sandra will revolutionize the lives of your children by refocusing your love into uplifting their posture in spirit.

Postural Orthodontics is just my bridge to release myself of my attachment to my comfort zone of hard discipline. My way instils an underlay of strength but it has distinct tones of harshness to it and that folks, is a lonely existence and indeed not for everyone.

At 51, I am who I am. No time soon will I be giving up my "carrot and stick" but for those who look to me for guidance, be glad the Forwardontics connection paves the path that encourages all of us to find our way home.
Left to right, back row: Prof. Jose Luis Gandia, Franco, Dr. Bill Hang, Dr. Mike Mew, Dr. Simon Wong, Dr. German Ramirez, Prof. Dror Aizenbud, Dr. Kevin Boyd

Left to right, front row: Dr. Sandra Kahn, Prof. John Mew, Dr. Maria Jose Munoz, Ms Esther Gokhale 
Left to right: Dr. Mike Mew,Dr. Simon Wong, Dr. Bill Hang, Prof. John Mew
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CONTACT US
Email: info@straightteethnaturally.com
Phone Number: +61 413 455 337
Copyright © 2020 Straight Teeth Naturally
Suite 101, 149-155 Pascoe Vale Road, 
Moonee Ponds, Victoria 3039, AUSTRALIA
Website Built by StarProducerStudios.com