About Us
Our Vision
Optimal oral health for all infants, children, adolescents and persons with special needs.
Our Aims
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To work tirelessly to improve the oral health of all the children in S.A. and to develop treatment and service modalities to satisfy these needs in an affordable, efficient and accessible manner.
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To inform and teach parents, guardians and other caregivers about oral health care issues, in order to empower them to make informed and correct decisions about their children’s teeth and oral health.
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To teach and encourage children to look after and care for their teeth by instituting national health care programmes.
The Paedodontic Society of 2011 - The Committee
Dr Janet Gritzman (President), Dr Sumeera Yusufmia (Vice-President ),
Dr. Stephan Horwitz (Honoury Treasurer) , Prof. Sid Setzer,
Dr. Geoff Melman, Dr. Brad Selvan, Dr. Tony Widmonte(Honoury Secretary),Dr. Anisa Pandor, Dr Marietjie Weakley, Dr Steven Flax
The History of The Paedodontic Society
The Paedodontic Society of South Africa has come a long way.
It was started in 1980 by a group of young dentists who were genuinely
interested in the welfare of their patients, intent on practicing the gold standard of dentistry and maintaining the high reputation of South African Dentists among the international community. Proudly a number of these dentists, namely Tony Widmonte, Geoff Melman and Prof Sid Setzer are still on the committee today.
In October 2000, the society was on the point of being disbanded when Prof. Lemmer came to the rescue. He recruited a committee including Dr Stephen Horwitz, Dr Bradley Selvan and Dr Paolo Agostinetto.
They started running very successful continuing education academic meetings.
In 2005 we developed a Paedodontic website.
ourchildrensteeth.co.za this is an excellent resource for both the dentists and the public.
In 2008 we became an active part of the global dental community.
In September of that year we hosted a group of 30 American Dentists, and became honourary members of the American Association of Paediatric Dentists.
Later in the year we became fully fledged members of the IAPD (International Association of Paediatric Dentistry)
And in November 2008 hosted the 1st African Regional Congress.
The Paedodontic Society is a great success story.
We have an incredible team. The Paedo committee.
Dr Janet Gritzman (President),Dr Sameera Yusufimia ( Vice President), Dr Stephen Horwitz(Honoury Treasurer), Dr Tony Widmonte (Secretary), Dr Brad Selvan, Dr Anisa Pandor, Dr Geoff Melman, Dr Marietjie Weakley, & Dr Steven Flax.
We have proved we can run excellent meetings.
Bringing you top speakers which are interesting, informative and relevant for the general practitioner in private practice. Combined with an enjoyable social experience.
The Paedodontic Society of 2010
2010 was a very special year for South Africa, it will go down in history as the year of the world cup.
But it was also a very special year in for the Paedo Society.
It will go down in history as the year the Paedo Society really took wings and flew. We started our website and Paedodontic newsletter ‘PaedoTalk’.
The Paedodontic Society 2011
In 2011 our Website and Newsletter has been made bigger, better and more professional. We have expanded our membership, and have an active data base of child friendly dentists all over South Africa. under the auspices of Dr Marietjie Weakley we have also started an Outreach Project
The Paedodontic Society of 2012 - Looking Forward
Our focus this year is:
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to actively and seriously promote Dentists and Dentistry to the public.
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to educate the South African public that oral health is an important component of one’s general health, and that looking after their childrens’ teeth is vital for their childrens’ appearance, their confidence, their functioning and this will impact on their general success in life.
Therefore definitely worth looking after.
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to concentrate on wellness and prevention rather than cure.
The regular check-ups, fissure sealants, fluoride, tooth moose, fresh breath orthodontics etc.
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to create awareness, with our web site, monthly news letters and lectures to para medical people, physios, OT’s and baby clinics.
It is only the beginning.
The potential is tremendous
I urge you - join us - get involved
Join the Paedodontic society
Visit our web site – ourchildrensteeth.co.za
Give us your e-mail details so we can send you our newsletters.
Become an active contributor
You are welcome to send our newsletters to your mailing lists
Or we can do it for you.
Together we can make it happen.
By Dr Janet Gritzman BA, BDS(Wits), P.D.D.(PTA)Dip Odont Endo(PTA), Dipl.Dent (Conscious Sedation & Pain Control)(UWC).
President of Paedodontic Society of South Africa
Past Presidents
- Professor Sid Setzer (1980 - 1981)
- Dr. Alek Rifkin (1982 - 1983)
- Dr. B.Scherman (1985 - 1986)
- Dr. Stan Hack (1987)
- Dr. Geoff Melman (1991)
- Dr. Stan Hack (1992 - 1994)
- Professor Sid Setzer (1995)
- Dr. Mark Wertheimer (1996-2000)
- Professor John Lemmer (2000-2003)
- Dr. Janet Gritzman (2003-current)
