Thoughts from Belgrade: 10 years of Biology First and lessons for less invasive orthodontics

A world where health becomes a priority

We all live in a society that fully enjoys the benefits of economic growth. We embrace comfort, technology, and new horizons. But with all these come new standards and new expectations about the way we want to live.
For many years, health has remained at the top of our concerns. And as time passes, we understand more clearly that just as we wish for a bigger house, a newer car, or a better school for our children, we should just as naturally wish for a state of health that allows us to truly enjoy life.

Oral health – an integral part of general health

As a dentist, I know very well – as do my colleagues – that oral health is an essential part of overall health. It is not merely an aesthetic detail but a core element of our well-being. We all want to keep our teeth healthy for as long as possible and, yes, to enjoy the image we see in the mirror.
But the road to that goal is not always simple – neither for the patient nor for the doctor.

Reflections from Belgrade – on biology and balance

These were some of the thoughts that accompanied me recently, returning from Belgrade, where I was invited to deliver a course for my orthodontic colleagues. I had the opportunity to present the experience gathered over more than ten years of applying the Biology First Orthodontics principle – an approach that places the patient’s biology at the heart of every therapeutic decision.

I firmly believe that only by deeply understanding how the human body works can we make correct, gentle, and minimally invasive therapeutic choices. Modern orthodontics now offers solutions that, a decade ago, we considered ambitious: treatments without extractions, without aggressive disjunctions, without surgery – wherever the patient’s biology allows it.

About profession, passion, and responsibility

Looking at the 20 younger colleagues in the lecture hall, I saw myself at the beginning of my own journey – a time when orthodontics was not just a specialization but a promise: the promise to become a better doctor, capable of treating the person, not just the dentition.
I shared with them the experience I have gathered, and especially the transformation that came with adopting less invasive methods, such as the use of the Damon Ultima system.

Among the roughly five hundred patients I have treated following the Biology First Orthodontics principles, nearly half have already benefited from the technological advances brought by Damon Ultima. I was among the first doctors to introduce this technology in Romania, a year before its official launch, and I have witnessed firsthand what it means to practice biology-guided orthodontics: more efficient treatments, greater comfort, and more stable results.

Encounters that inspire

The young doctors attending the course were eager to learn how to apply these principles effectively in their own practices. It was a full day, rich in questions, demonstrations, and enthusiasm.
At the end of the session, I wished them all great success in their professional journeys. I returned to Bucharest feeling grateful – and joyful to have reunited with my good friend, Dr. Marija Saupe, whom I first met ten years ago when, as a young attendee myself, I listened to her advocacy for an orthodontics that respects the biology of the patient.

Biology first – always

Looking back, I realize that the essence remains unchanged: regardless of technology, materials, or trends, biology must always come first.
Because only by respecting nature can we build results that last – and smiles that, beyond aesthetics, speak of health, confidence, and the genuine joy of living.