David Domenic Di Biase (1935–2001) was a British

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the mouth, oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofaci ...

. He was best known for developing, together with Arthur Levis (1927–2000), Chief Dental Technician at Southend General Hospital, the Southend Clasp, a widely used retention component used on removable orthodontic appliances.

Education

Di Biase studied dentistry at

King's College London School of Medicine and Dentistry GKT School of Medical Education (abbreviated: GKT) is the medical school of King's College London. The school has campuses at three institutions, Guy's Hospital ( Southwark), King's College Hospital ( Denmark Hill) and St Thomas' Hospital ( La ...

. He graduated with Honours, followed by a short Service Commission in the Royal Air Force between 1961 and 1963. On completion he obtained his Fellowship and Diploma in

Orthodontics Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, and misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial ...

. During his senior registrar training he won the prestigious Chapman Prize.

Dental career

In 1971 he was appointed Consultant Orthodontist at Southend Hospital. He relinquished sessions in Southend in 1989 to join the teaching staff in the Orthodontic Department at

Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry , mottoeng = Temper the bitter things in life with a smile , parent = Queen Mary University of London , president = Lord Mayor of London , head_label = Warden , head = Mark Caulfield , students = 3,410 , undergrad = 2,23 ...

. He gained a significant reputation, publishing and lecturing widely on orthodontics, and developing ideas such as ‘The Southend Clasp’, which is now in wide use throughout the speciality. His other particular interest was in dento-facial orthopaedics for cleft neonates. Besides his clinical commitments, he played an important political role in

dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions o ...

. His overwhelming passion was to see the divided orthodontic speciality in the United Kingdom united under one organisation. To this end he acted as ‘midwife’ to the developing British Orthodontic Society (BOS). He was the first

chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

of conference and followed as first chairman of the newly constituted British Orthodontic Society and later as president. He was also secretary and president of the Essex branch of the

British Dental Association The British Dental Association (BDA) is a registered trade union for dentists in the United Kingdom. Its stated mission is to "promote the interests of members, advance the science, arts and ethics of dentistry and improve the nation's oral he ...

. David also served on national organisations, being an elected member of the

General Dental Council The General Dental Council (GDC) is an organisation which regulates dental professionals in the United Kingdom. It keeps an up-to-date register of all qualified dentists and other dental care professionals such as: dental hygienists, dental ther ...

and he sat on the Standing Dental Advisory Committee Orthodontic Review Group. In his personal life Di Biase had three passions, his family, art and rugby football. As a rugby player he played for ‘King’s College Hospital', ‘Saracens’ and the Royal Air Force. {{DEFAULTSORT:Di Biase, David 1935 births 2001 deaths Alumni of King's College London British dentists Orthodontists Academics of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry 20th-century dentists Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames 20th-century Royal Air Force personnel Royal Air Force officers