Quality of life and orthodontics: a challenge to traditional concepts. Report of the 2009 NZAO Symposium.

The biennial symposium of the Education, Research and Development Group (ERDG) of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists (NZAO) was held in Wellington on 2 and 3 October 2009. The challenging topic was the application of Quality of Life research to the practice of orthodontics. The well-established format of pre-symposium reading by participants, symposium lectures and discussion groups leading to consensus once again proved an excellent basis upon which to engage this subject. The findings reported here represent the consensus reached by delegates attending the symposium.