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Alison and I departed these shores on Friday March 6th without a care in the world. We were heading for the Caribbean for a well-earned rest. Of course we had heard of the ‘goings on’ in Wuhan, following the identification of the Covid virus in January, and of course we knew one case had been identified in Italy a couple of weeks earlier, but surely this would be sorted out by the time we came home … how wrong could we be? Two short weeks later, on our return, we were greeted by an almost post-apocalyptic scene at Gatwick airport, and the very next day the entire country was put in lockdown … boy oh boy had the world changed … and perhaps, for ever!
Following lockdown many on the Board of Trustees of the British Orthodontic Society were immediately galvanized into action. Together with their teams of able and enthusiastic volunteers, they immediately started putting together incredibly helpful videos for patients on how to deal with orthodontic ‘emergencies’ at home, utilizing makeshift tools and materials that should be easily accessible in their homes. This initial work prevented the potential tidal wave of patients with problems over the following few months, and most patients and parents were enormously grateful that they didn't have to come anywhere near the hospitals or clinics in these uncertain times. Videos were also posted for patients, on the BOS Website, showing them how to photograph their own teeth, and this greatly aided communication with their care provider, who was then able to advise them about any changes needed to the treatment regimen.
Crisis management meetings were held on Zoom, every 2 weeks, for the first few months and the BOS worked tirelessly, on behalf of our patients and their membership, to give up-to-date, timely and evidence-based information, posted immediately to the Website, so that clinical orthodontics could eventually be resumed in a safe and effective way. Members were looking to many national bodies and organizations for useful practical help and guidance in this crisis. None came close to providing the quality of information that was provided by the BOS, and for that, all involved deserve to be congratulated.
Orthodontic Update, as a publication, is another source of useful information. In our July edition we managed to feature four papers relevant to the Covid Crisis and this is in no small part due to the unstinting work of Angela Stroud our amazing Production Editor, for whom spinning plates is her stock in trade. Sadly, our October edition will be the very last issue of Orthodontic Update produced by Angela. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for many years of superb production of both Dental Update and Orthodontic Update. For sure, she will be an exceedingly difficult act to follow.