Dear colleagues,

what a year that is now behind us! Exciting, eventful, demanding and successful - all at the same time... and we are sure that these attributes not only aptly describe the year 2022 of the DGAO, but also represent the imponderables, opportunities and successes that we all encountered in 2022.

At the turn of the year 2021/2022, the corona pandemic not only dominated the headlines, but also our everyday life with the necessary restrictions and precautionary measures. At that point in time, nobody dared to make reliable predictions about what the year 2022 would bring. In these uncertain times, we dared to take the first steps towards 7th Scientific Congress for Aligner Orthodontics, with the big goal of finally coming together again in presence. Months of planning, careful consideration and the question followed: could an event with several hundred participants take place live?

You know how the story ended: We were able to personally welcome many of you to the Gürzenich in Cologne in November of this year. The fact that the 7th Scientific Congress could take place in this form, that so many of you made the journey to Cologne, that many colleagues attended the event online, that we benefit from the expertise and knowledge of the many internationally renowned Speakers were able to benefit - all of this fills us, the board of the DGAO, with a lot of gratitude. Also because we know that the regained normality is a privilege and not a matter of course.

Speaking of gratitude: At this point, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our long-time DGAO President Professor Rainer-Reginald Miethke, who resigned from office during the congress. With this goes not only a valued colleague, a founding member and source of inspiration, but above all a friend who DGAO designed and formed with his tireless commitment for almost 15 years. Thank you Reggie! Our members will decide on his successor at a general meeting in the new year, about which we will inform you separately.

Last but not least, we would like to wish you all a nice and peaceful celebration with dear people and a successful and above all healthy start into the new year. Even if the next scientific congress in 2024 is planned, there will hopefully be numerous opportunities for reunion and exchange in 2023.

We are particularly looking forward to that.

Best regards

Your DGAO board