Specialist Orthodontist Dr Sunil Hirani is celebrating after recently passing the World Society of Lingual Orthodontics (WSLO) exam.
Lingual orthodontics involves treating patients discreetly with braces ‘behind their teeth’. This technique known as invisible braces is very technically demanding. Lingual orthodontics is an advanced sub-specialty of orthodontics.
There are currently about 1500 registered specialist orthodontists in the UK and only 5-10% of them can proficiently undertake lingual orthodontic treatment. The main reason for this is the very high level of skill required as it takes many years to master.
Dr Hirani was the only candidate from the UK to sit the exam, which took place at the 8th WSLO Congress in Barcelona in July 2019.
A panel of expert lingual orthodontic examiners assessed Dr Hirani’s cases. As of 2019, only 246 individuals have passed this exceptionally difficult exam worldwide, so it’s a fantastic achievement.
Dr Hirani is the only consultant-trained specialist in the UK to hold this esteemed qualification. The candidate sitting the exam is usually a specialist for at least 10 years.
As chairman of the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS), Dr Hirani is committed to raising the profile of lingual orthodontics in the UK.
Dr Hirani told Asian Voice, “I am absolutely thrilled to have passed this examination. It reflects the steps that I have slowly climbed over the last 16 years as a specialist. It is my family and faith that have kept me very focused.”
