Director Shuichi Hida of Mitsukyo Station Smile Dental Clinic Announces Program for the 5th National Convention of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association

Shuichi Hida, director of Mitsukyo Station Smile Dental Clinic (Seya Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture), will serve as the chairman of the '5th National Convention of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association (Tokyo),' to be held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

With less than a month to go before the event, the program content and comments from Chairman Hida on the scheduled lectures have been officially released.

This convention is a member-only academic event for members of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association and staff of member clinics. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental staff from across the country will gather to deepen their learning on the latest academic knowledge and clinical practice regarding pediatric orthodontics and oral function development.

This year's convention will re-examine pediatric orthodontic medicine from multifaceted perspectives. In addition to trending themes such as 'mouth breathing,' 'open-mouth posture,' and 'oral functional developmental disorders,' the program will cover preventive medicine centered on orthodontic treatment, team-based medical care, and the clinical application of next-generation orthodontic devices.

■ Message from the Chairman

'Turning conviction into the next generation's guidelines.'

The national convention of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association is an important venue to sublimate the philosophy and clinical convictions we have accumulated through our research association activities into more concrete 'guidelines,' connecting them to the future of pediatric orthodontics and oral function development.

This time, we have created opportunities for new insights and verification not only by further deepening the knowledge accumulated within the association but also by actively incorporating external specialized perspectives.

Pediatric orthodontics is not just a problem of 'tooth alignment.' It is deeply related to a child's overall growth and development, including breathing, swallowing, tongue function, posture, and lifestyle habits.

Through this convention, I hope you will re-examine your daily clinical practice from multiple perspectives and connect it to the practice of higher-quality pediatric orthodontic care. I look forward to a fruitful day as we rethink 'the future of children's mouths' together with doctors and staff.

Chairman, 5th National Convention of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association
Shuichi Hida

■ Outline of the 5th National Convention

Convention Name: 5th National Convention of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association (Tokyo) (Member-only)

Theme: 'What is Happening to Children's Mouths Now? — Rethinking Pediatric Orthodontics and Oral Function —'

Date: June 21, 2026 (Sunday)

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 (Registration starts at 9:30)

Venue: Nomura Conference Plaza Nihonbashi 6F Main Hall

Target: Members of the Japan Pediatric Orthodontic Research Association and staff of member clinics

■ Lecture Program and Content

[Morning Lecture] Seiichiro Kitamura, Professor Emeritus, Tokushima University Faculty of Dentistry

'The Relationship Between Children's Open-Mouth Posture and Tongue Function — From an Anatomical Perspective —'

This lecture interprets problems such as mouth breathing and 'open-mouth posture' from the perspective of anatomical structures centered on the suprahyoid muscle group, deepening understanding of oral function development in childhood.

[Afternoon Lecture] Chieko Hamada, Representative Director, TomorrowLink Co., Ltd. / Dental Hygienist

'Toward Creating an Oral Environment Free of Disease — Lifelong Prevention Opened Up by Orthodontics and Team Medical Care —'

This lecture redefines orthodontic treatment not as mere 'aesthetic improvement' but as 'creating an environment that prevents disease,' explaining the practice of preventive medicine from childhood and team-based medical care, including perspectives on dental practice management.