Yes, we are truly “One World of Orthodontics.” The World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) has adopted the World Journal of Orthodontics (WJO) as their official journal. And what could be a better way to share our international know-how than a dedicated journal?

For years, when asked what they considered the most valuable service rendered by the organization, members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) overwhelmingly responded, “The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO)!” Our World Federation of Orthodontists members deserve no less. Communication is the name of the game! G.V. Black, the eminent dental pioneer, said, “The professional man (or woman) cannot be other than a continuous student.” We owe it to ourselves as well as our patients.

Historically, orthodontists have been internationally segregated due to the limited availability and lack of exposure to research and clinical reports in literature from abroad. When I became editor-in-chief of the AJO in 1985, one of the first things I did was to make the journal available to our international colleagues around the world. The AJO-DO circulation increased by over 60% and the number of articles written by non-American orthodontists increased eight times! We all gained!

Now with journals like the World Journal of Orthodontics, published by the renowned international dental publisher Quintessence, WFO members as well as non-members have the latest in clinical information, augmented with multiple color illustrations, available via both printed and electronic editions. WFO members can also contribute to the WJO, helping colleagues in other countries, as well as read the “latest and best” contributions from world-class authors.

With the WJO becoming the official journal of the WFO, members can now subscribe at a substantial reduction over the regular annual cost, giving even more reason to join the WFO for those orthodontists who are not members. In celebration of the WFO affiliation, two issues of the WJO (this and the winter 2004 issue) are being sent gratis to current WFO members. Joining the WFO comes just in time, too, for the spectacular Sixth International Orthodontic Congress to be held in Paris in September 2005, an unparalleled professional and personal experience.

For those who are new readers to the World Journal of Orthodontics, I hope you will enjoy this complimentary issue and will continue to subscribe. If you have good clinical information to present, submit it as a paper to share with our worldwide WJO readership. As a member of the World Federation of Orthodontists, I look forward to seeing you in Paris next September!