The Society for Orthodontic Dental Technology (german: Gesellschaft für Kieferorthopädische Zahntechnik e.V (GK)) is a professional body that represents

orthodontic 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 ...

technicians and is based in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. Established in 1990, the society was founded by Friedbert Schmeil, who served as the society's first chairman until 1997.

Current activities

The aims of the association are to promote high quality of orthodontic dental technology, to stimulate and support interdisciplinary engagement, to hold an annual congress and build relationships with international professional organisations.

Membership

Although based in Germany with a predominantly German membership, GK has an international membership base – the society has members from

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, Sweden, Switzerland and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. Membership benefits include contact with colleagues and other professional organisations both national and internationally, a regularly updated membership register (german: mitgliederliste), new innovations at national and international level, opportunities for active participation in the society, an online encyclopaedia of orthodontic technology as well as regular updates about the society. As of 2014, membership is €60 per annum.

Board of directors

The society is run by a board of directors, currently chaired by Berit Junghanns. Heike Pietack is secretary and Gerhard Maier is treasurer
Petra Brambora
Jörg Stehr and Ines Forest are the other board members.

Annual congress

The GK holds an annual congress (german: Harzer Fortbildungsseminar), and invites nationally and internationally renowned speakers to lecture at the event. The conference also offers members a platform to share their experiences and advice to colleagues. Home speakers have included Rolf Hinz, Aurelia Lerch and Ursula Wirtz. International speakers have include
James GreenPaul Mallett
an
Guido Pedroli

Partner organizations

GK has a close working relationship with overseas organizations such as GTO an
ORTEC
(Italy), Sveriges Ortondonti Tandtekniker Förening (Sweden) and the

Orthodontic Technicians Association The Orthodontic Technicians Association (UK) (OTA) is the professional body that represents orthodontic technologists, based in the United Kingdom. History In 1971, orthodontic technicians based at London teaching hospitals began holding mee ...

(United Kingdom).

External links

GK Official Website
{{authority control Dental organizations Medical associations based in Germany Organizations established in 1990 Orthodontic organizations Medical and health organisations based in Saxony-Anhalt