Indian Orthodontic Society founded by seven orthodontists; society has grown to more than 1,000 members

The Indian Orthodontic Society (IOS) was founded October 5, 1965, in Mumbai by seven orthodontists, four of whom are still alive. The Society has grown to 1,096 members, including 315 postgraduate students and 781 life members.

The main objectives of the IOS are:

1.) to popularize and promote the study and practice of orthodontics in India;
2.) to educate the Indian public on the importance of orthodontics;
3.) to print and publish journals, periodicals, articles and other literature focusing on problems, practices, methods, improvements and other matters relating to orthodontics.

To meet its objectives, the IOS started the Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society (JIOS) in 1965. The quarterly publication has been published regularly since then and has a special place in Indian dental literature. The IOS also held its first Annual Conference in January 1967 in New Delhi. Since then the IOS has conducted Annual Conferences every year. The IOS has also established study groups to encourage the exchange of scientific knowledge among members.

Resources for members, as well as the public, have also been a focus of the society. At its headquarters in Vellore, the IOS established a library and the first dental museum in India in 1998. The library has 254 books and 188 dissertations, as well as dental and orthodontic journals. The IOS also established the IOS-Free Dental Specialty Centre on August 7, 1999, in Vellore. This center includes a free dental clinic and health education hall.

To learn more about the organization, visit the IOS Web site at www.iosonline.org.