Incorporating clinical innovations into teaching curriculum in orthodontic residency programs: Checklists and roadmaps

The first orthodontic program was opened by Edward H. Angle in 1900 as the Angle School of Orthodontia. From 1900 to 2024, over 70 exceptional orthodontic programs have been developed to provide comprehensive orthodontic education to postdoctoral residents. During this time, numerous innovations have been introduced in orthodontics which have changed the clinical practice of orthodontics. Orthodontic programs need to incorporate such innovations into their curriculum so that the residents are knowledgeable of current developments. To incorporate innovations into orthodontic residency programs, it is important to balance it with standardization. Standardization can be explained in terms of roadmaps and checklists for different innovations. This article aims to provide roadmaps, checklists, and principles for incorporating and teaching innovation into the orthodontic residency curriculum.