Canadian Association of Orthodontists (CAO)

The Canadian Associations of Orthodontics is a national organisation and was established in 1947 by the faculty of dentistry of the university of Toronto. Dr. Jean-Marc Retrouvey is the current president of the association. The orthodontics profession is constant progression. The Canadian Associations of Orthodontics aims to represent all the Canadian orthodontists. It promotes public awareness of the benefits of orthodontic health care rendered by certified specialists in orthodontics. Their members are actively involved with national regulatory agencies to provide the patient care in the best possible way. The CAO’s has also established a program called Consumer Awareness Program and collaborated with the American Association of orthodontists to ensure the patients benefits of seeking a certified specialist for all their orthodontic needs.

The Canadian Associations of Orthodontics is the official voice for registered orthodontists and is dedicated to promote the standards of excellence in orthodontic education and quality orthodontic care. The Canadian Society of Orthodontists is the national organization which represents all orthodontists in Canada and therefore has the responsibility to assure that all members receive appropriate training. In 1962, the opinion on the issue was that sufficient training in orthodontics could only be achieved under graduate course in orthodontics given in dental schools and approved by the Board of Education ADC. Several Canadian orthodontists are enrolled in this program of unquestionable educational substance. The fellowship amongst the Canadians during this Strang Course had great significance for the doctors practising orthodontics today.  The main of this association includes advancing the art of orthodontics, protect the rights of orthodontists as certified specialists in orthodontics. 14 orthodontists from Canada assembled at the next American Association of Orthodontists  meeting in New York with the thoughts of forming a Canadian association uppermost in their minds. The discussion from this meeting were taken and entitled as "Minutes of a meeting of a group of Canadian orthodontists conducted on May 4, 1949 in the Commodore Hotel, New York". Dr. R.R. McIntyre was appointed as a temporary chairman and opened the meeting with the discussion as to the desire of forming an association of Canadian orthodontists and the feasibility of being affiliated to the  Canadian Dental Association (C.D.A.).