Message from the President of the Society

My name is Keiji Moriyama, DDS PhD, President of the Japanese Society for Jaw Deformities (JSDS), which is a non-profit organization.

Jaw deformity is a condition that causes skeletal deformity of the jaw bones during growth and development. It not only causes esthetic disharmony in the oral cavity, jaw, and face, but also often has a negative effect on chewing, pronunciation, and breathing – all important functions essential to maintaining a healthy and comfortable life. Treatment of jaw deformity is a clinical field that makes full use of advanced expertise and medical/dental technology and fosters cooperation among a team of specialists, including oral surgeons and orthodontists.

The society has grown out of the Jaw Deformity Study Group, which started in 1982. The Japanese Society for Jaw Deformities was established in January 1991 with Dr. Tadahiko Iizuka (currently Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University) as the president. The presidency was then taken over by Dr. Chikara Saito (former Professor Emeritus of Niigata University, former Visiting Professor of Tokyo Dental College), followed by Dr. Junichiro Iida (currently Professor Emeritus of Hokkaido University), Dr. Masaharu Kobayashi (Professor of Niigata University), and Dr. Masayuki Takano (Professor of Tokyo Dental College). In July 2005, it became a specified non-profit organization and has grown into an academic organization with more than 2,500 members, consisting mainly of orthodontists and oral surgeons.

The Society holds annual academic meetings and educational workshops and regularly publishes its official journal, the Japanese Journal of Jaw Deformities. We also disseminate educational material through our website. A sister relationship agreement was signed with the Korean Association of Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KAMPRS) in 2001, providing active international academic exchanges that have continued for more than 20 years. We are also working to strengthen our foundation as an academic organization by affiliating with the Science Council of Japan, the Japanese Society of Dentistry Research, and the Council of Japan Dental Science Societies, among others. In addition, we plan to start an accreditation system to enhance clinical education and training. We will continue to promote academic research and educational dissemination activities on jaw deformities with the aim of raising clinical standards, developing next-generation human resources, and improving the medical/dental welfare of all people.

Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation.

Keiji Moriyama, D.D.S., Ph.D.
President, The Japanese Society for Jaw Deformity
Professor and Chair, Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics
, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University