Belgian orthodontists strive for legal recognition of specialty

For the past 16 years, the Belgian government has made steady, but slow, progress toward the legal recognition of orthodontics as a specialty.

In 1983, the orthodontic departments of six Belgian universities agreed to regulate the curriculum of the orthodontic training programs. This consensus document was further refined when the Erasmus Project was completed in 1991. Through the Erasmus Project, many universities of the European Union agreed to standardize the curriculum and training for orthodontists. In addition, numerous European universities accepted the Erasmus Norms, which outline training criteria for orthodontic training programs. European Union countries are required to use the Erasmus directives as guidelines for further discussion regarding specialty recognition in dentistry. Currently, orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery are under active consideration for specialty recognition in the European Union.

On November 25, 1991, the Belgian government began recognizing the title orthodontic specialist. However, a seven-year discussion ensued as the government worked to determine the proper usage of the term. Consequently, discussion of the application of the specialty law did not begin until 1998. At that point in time, the Belgian government established the Council for Dentistry, which is the legal representative of the dental profession. Preliminary reports from the orthodontic committee concerning recognition modalities were filed with the newly appointed Council for Dentistry in October 1999.

At the present time, there is general agreement among the dental professionals in Belgium that specialty recognition for orthodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons is both necessary and appropriate. The Belgian orthodontic associations are encouraging the government to establish the protocols for this recognition. These protocols will enable Belgian orthodontists to practice anywhere in the European Union and will foster the universal recognition of the orthodontic training standards throughout the European Union.