Hu-Friedy holds 8th annual Global Wire Bending Contest

CHICAGO, IL , February 10, 2011– Hu-Friedy, a global leader in dental instrument manufacturing, is once again looking for the best and brightest orthodontics skills with the 8th Annual Global Wire Bending Contest.   Open to orthodontic residents and practitioners worldwide, the contest will take place at the Annual Session of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) taking place in Chicago, IL from May 14 through May 17, 2011.

The contest features two categories:  Single Wire and Anything Goes.  The rules are simple: entries in the Single Wire category must be designed from a single piece of orthodontic wire, while entries in the Anything Goes category can be designed from multiple orthodontic wires.  One winner from each category will be announced at the Hu-Friedy booth on May 17, the last day of the AAO.

At stake is more than just bragging rights; the Single Wire and Anything Goes winners will receive $1,000 and $3,000 worth of Hu-Friedy Orthodontic Instruments, respectively.  Winning entries will also be featured in a post-contest press release and on the Hu-Friedy website and Friends of Hu-Friedy online community.

Entries will be judged on the same creativity and hard work that Hu-Friedy has applied to the design and manufacturing of dental instruments since 1908.  Moreover, recognizing the growing participation of the international dental community at the AAO, Hu-Friedy has opened the contest to practitioners worldwide.  As a result, the company is looking forward to a lively competition this year.

Top 2010 entries displayed an impressive combination of both technique and inventiveness; the Single Wire winner Dr. Daniel Nguyen created a stunningly intricate Phoenix as homage to his soon-to-be wife, while Dr. Aaron Swapp, winner of the Anything Goes category, used nearly 300 feet of wire to build a complete, dual-toned chess set and board.

Ron Saslow, President and CEO of Hu-Friedy, says, "Hu-Friedy has a long tradition of commitment to skill, quality and innovation in the dental industry.  This competition allows us to recognize and reward these same principles in the orthodontic practitioners throughout the world who use our products every day.  We applaud the ‘artists’ who create these incredible pieces of art.”

To enter the 8th Annual Global Wire Bending Contest, entrants must submit their creations at the Hu-Friedy booth during the AAO convention; entries must be received by 5:00pm on Monday, May 16.  All entries become the property of Hu-Friedy unless otherwise specified by Hu-Friedy.  For more information, call 1-877-HF-ORTHO or visit www.Hu-Friedy.com.