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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

‘Since its formation in 1981, the AOG has grown to become one of the largest dental community groups in the UK’ June 13-19, 2011United Kingdom Edition T he AOG is Britain’s un- derstated dental organi- sation. Its recent holding of a joint conference of formal lectures and workshops with the Faculty of General Dental Prac- tice (UK) and the Indian Dental Association in Delhi in February 2011, as well as the AOG/Smile- on Clinical Innovations confer- ence in May, were visible indica- tions of the high esteem in which it is held internationally. The ac- tivities of the group, however, are not restricted to weighty profes- sional issues; its social events are also a chance for guests to meet friends old and new, and contribute to AOG’s charitable work. A recent focus of the philanthropic aspect of the AOG is its support of the Chi- trakoot Project charity, named after the region in central India where the Project gives primary dental care to children and the poorest families in around 500 villages across the area. Treating over 40,000 cases of dental problems, in addition to oral cancers or cleft palates, and carrying out cosmetic work such as pros- thetic rhinoplasties are just some of the procedures car- ried out by volunteers, whose assistance can save lives in many cases. As well as delivering vi- tal and sometimes life-saving oral care to people unfortunate enough to have no other access to dental professionals, this wor- thy venture is also valuable ex- perience for some of the AOG’s younger members who want to gain a familiarity of operating in a remote area of the world where access to dentistry can be limited. Next year’s project, in Feb- ruary, is linked with the CIC international conference in Capetown and the long stand- ing association in Musoma, Tanzania. Members and friends depart during Easter mid- term for Kilimanjaro to open a new facility for disabled people in Musoma which is just 50 miles from the Serengeti Safari park. Those on a shorter vacation re- turn to UK whilst the rest amble through South Africa, tasting the splendid New World wines and ending in Capetown where the AOG/Smile-on Clinical Innova- tions conference is being held between the 23rd and 25th of February 2012. Charity, fun and education are the themes of any AOG international tour. Not for nothing is the or- ganisation’s motto ‘towards the greater good.’ Naturally, a large number of the AOG’s mem- bers wish to ‘give something back’ and perform good works with the destitute of the third world, which many of them have a strong connection to either through being born there or hav- ing relatives there. A similar charitable spirit is embodied in the AOG’s social events, the proceeds from all of which go to worthy causes. Over £90,000 was raised in one cam- paign that also kick started the Chitrakoot project, whilst over £100,000 was raised in one night after the Japanese tsunami earli- er this year. The dental trade also enthusiastically supports the AOG, due to its members having one of the more sustained buy- ing groups in the UK. In association with the edu- cational body Smile-On, the group was also responsible for hosting the 2011 Clinical Inno- vations Conference at the Royal College of Physicians in Lon- don’s Regent’s Park in May 2011. This event, the capital’s leading international aesthetic and re- storative conference, saw over 400 delegates, spoken to by some of the world’s leading authorities in the field of restorative dentist- ry. Dean Elizabeth Jones of the London Deanery was the princi- pal guest at the AOG Conference dinner, which raised over a mil- lion rupees for the Nuffield Deaf and Blind School in Kaithady, South Asia. The AOG’s upcoming Sum- mer BBQ & Family Day at the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Girl’s School on Sunday July 10th 2011 is less formal and prestigious than conferences and lecture tours, but just as important to the organisation’s work in its own way. The relaxed atmosphere of the event allows its members and their parents, children and relatives to socialise and net- work in surroundings where work is not the main centre of attention, meaning that close personal as well as profession- al bonds can be made between them, their spouses and their children. The school, which is a venerable institution situated in attractive parkland, is located in Elstree in Herfordshire. Whilst in the South-East region of the country, the venue’s proximity to the M1 makes it relatively acces- sible to members from all over the UK. The Summer BBQ & Fam- ily Day also includes live music, team games for all the family (rounders, in this year’s case), alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and a range of different spicy barbeque food. The event usually features a variety of different entertainments for chil- dren, such as a ‘bucking bronco,’ a bouncy castle, and a petting zoo. The great and the good of dentistry tend to gravitate there with shorts, T-shirts and flip flops. Those who book tick- ets in advance online can save themselves money with a lower entry fee. Since its formation in 1981, the AOG has grown to become one of the largest dental commu- nity groups in the UK. As well as its aforementioned charity projects, the AOG has alliances with other bodies in Britain and abroad that allow it to provide financial and educational help and guidance to its members; this comes in the shape of a free newsletter and a variety of dis- counts on educational courses and dental materials and con- sumables (primarily, a 16.5% reduction on products and serv- ices from the Dental Directory). The AOG will be ‘Dentalghar’s’ UK social networking hub. DT To learn more about the AOG, or to join, go to www.aoguk.org 30 Years of Charity and Education Family fun day