Against the Odds award winner announced

Against the Odds award winner Katharine, pictured before (left) and after (right) orthodontic treatment
Against the Odds award winner Katharine, pictured before (left) and after (right) orthodontic treatment

The winner of the British Orthodontic Society’s Against the Odds award has been announced as 15-year-old Katharine Highfield.

Held annually, the Against the Odds award aims to find the best story of specialist treatment submitted by a patient.

Award-winner Katharine, who lives in Surrey, was commended by the judges, who commented: ‘She went from being called Bugs Bunny and having people talking behind her back to feeling able to audition for a role in the school play. Orthodontics really changed her life. She told the story so well and her pictures illustrated the transformation.’

Of her orthodontist, Georgina Cartwright, from Croydon Orthodontic Practice, Katharine

wrote: ‘I would like to thank Georgina for perfecting my teeth and also for being really nice and supportive. I have found the whole treatment has made me a much more comfortable person and I am no longer afraid of the way that I look all thanks to Georgina who worked hard to make sure I got the result I did.’

Georgina Cartwright, from Croydon Orthodontic Practice, was Katharine's orthodonist
Georgina Cartwright, from Croydon Orthodontic Practice, was Katharine’s orthodonist

Second place went to Jess Robinson, aged 17, for her entry describing her complex treatment to improve her smile and the positioning of her jaws. Aged eight, she had numerous problems, including two missing teeth, a large gap between her front teeth and an underbite, where the lower teeth close over the upper front teeth. At the time she was told her problems were too extreme and she would need surgical treatment as an adult to reposition the jaw.

Three years later she saw a different specialist, Angus Pringle of Guildford Orthodontics and, as Jess said, he ‘understood the original assessment but liked a challenge’. The judges said: ‘This was a story of a complex course of orthodontics. The high standard of treatment that Jess enjoyed shone through in her story. At every turn, the orthodontist went the extra mile to accommodate her. The treatment was a hard slog for both the orthodontist and the patient but a great result made it worthwhile.’

The third prize winner was 12-year-old Daniel Allen of Stoke-on-Trent who was treated

by Chris Lowe of Hightown Orthodontics in Crewe. Daniel’s hand-written story also impressed the judges, who said: ‘Daniel was delighted by the outcome and this really comes across. We loved the passion he put into writing his entry and his desire to win not for himself but for his orthodontist. This was a fantastic endorsement of his treatment.’

Professor Newton, who has judged the Against the Odds award for the last 11 years said: ‘All three were very close and the judging keeps getting harder. I am reminded every year of the

miracles that orthodontists perform with their amazing transformations, not just of teeth but of lives.’

Katharine won £750 worth of travel vouchers while Jess and Daniel have received an electric toothbrush. The orthodontist of the winning patient, Georgina Cartwright, will be presented with a trophy at the next meeting of the BOS Orthodontic Specialists Group.

This year’s award was judged by Capital FM newsreader, Holly Jones and Professor Tim

Newton, professor of psychology as applied to dentistry. Guy Deeming, chairman of the BOS Orthodontic Specialists Group, thanked Holly and Tim for judging the award and Ormco for its sponsorship of the award.

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