Veteran’s Lecture

Orthodontists in the Era of 5^th Industrial Revolution

Young Guk Park

Prof. Young Guk Park is a world-renowned researcher, author, and speaker in clinical orthodontics and basic science of craniofacial biology, especially in signal transduction of osteoblast differentiation. He is the Go-Hwang Eminent Professor at the Kyung Hee University, Seoul, where he is the Immediate Past Acting President and Academic Provost of the University. He is currently the Secretary General of the Kyung Hee University System.

He is the Past President of the KAO Korean Association of Orthodontists and its associate Foundation KAOF, and the Past President of the Korean Academy of Dental Education. His main interests lie in the lingual orthodontics with individually tailored appliance system, and accelerating tooth movement with CorticisionTM, which was developed and given its nomenclature by himself, involving minor periodontal procedure without flap elevation, and "light accelerated orthodontics with LED".

He was the Visiting Assistant Professor of Orthodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and is currently the Guest Professor of the Osaka Dental University, Japan, and also Guest Professor of the Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China, and Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Dentistry, UiTM University Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

Lecture Description

The orthodontic professionalism is poised to undergo transformative changes as we enter the era of the 5th Industrial Revolution. This presentation explores the evolutionary journey from the First Industrial Revolution to the present, highlighting pivotal technological advancements and societal shifts at each stage. In the 5th Industrial Revolution, characterized by the fusion of digital, biological, and physical technologies, society will experience unprecedented integration of human intelligence with advanced AI, robotics, and biotechnologies.

This convergence is set to revolutionize the orthodontic avenue. Personalized treatment process will be enhanced by AI-driven diagnostics, 3D technologies will enable custom orthodontic devices, and tele-orthodontics will broaden access to care and expand to universal health coverage. Moreover, the emphasis on sustainable and ethical practices will reshape how orthodontists approach both treatment and patient interaction.

Orthodontists must prepare by embracing continuous education in emerging technologies, fostering interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaborations involving humanities scholars, and adapting to new patient care models. This forward-thinking approach will not only enhance clinical outcomes but also ensure that practitioners remain at the forefront of this rapidly evolving landscape.

By understanding the implications of the 5th Industrial Revolution, orthodontists can proactively shape their practices to meet future demands and continue delivering exceptional patient care in an increasingly interconnected world.