January 12, 2011
Down to the wire: Winners of orthodontic sculpture contest announced
First-year UW dental resident Dr. Siddharth Vora has won the School of Dentistrys annual Orthodontics Wire Sculpture contest by leading a field of five entries. Vora, from Mumbai, India, submitted a sculpture of a dragon whose wings ripple when they are fanned. Two entries tied for second place: Dr. Jace Beatties underwater decorations, submerged in an aquarium with live fish, and Dr. Sara Cassidys interpretation of girls at play.
UW School of dentistry orthodontic residents and artistic sculptors, left to right, Dr. Jace Beattie, Dr. Siddharth Vora,and Dr. Sara Cassidy.
Dragon, by Siddharth Vora
Since 1966, the Department of Orthodontics has conducted the annual contest for first-year residents. Entries are judged by popular vote in three categories: most esthetically pleasing, most innovative design, and highest technical competence (quality of welding, soldering, and so on.) Entrants must use predominantly orthodontic materials, such as wire, rubber bands and dental acrylic.
Girls at Play by Sara Cassidy
The contest was inspired by the late Dr. Ben Moffett, a School of Dentistry professor emeritus of orthodontic who was a dentistry faculty member for three decades.
In the 1960s, he took an art class in form and function at the UW, and found the material so useful that he arranged to bring a lecturer on the subject to the School of Dentistry for weekly talks. Interest in the subject led to the contest.
All photos on this page are by Steve Steinberg.
Aquarium by Jace Beattie
