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Jonathan Alexander-Abt (left) with Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage and Sarah Gammon-Carter launching an anti-bullying campaign in Stevenage Inline Orthodontics, a specialist orthodontic

practice in Stevenage, conducted their own anti-bullying campaign during Anti Bullying Week on 19-23 November 2012. On 16 November a meeting was held to discuss ways in which professionals

in Stevenage can help young people who are being bullied. Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland spearheaded the start of the campaign and this was followed by a moderated discussion with key

members of the local community including head teachers, sports club leaders and dentists. Young people were also asked to contribute to the debate by describing their experiences of bullying

while their parents will be asked how this affected their children. Sarah Gammon-Carter's front teeth stuck out by 12 mm and she was subjected to name calling until orthodontic

treatment changed her appearance and boosted her confidence. It also led her to become an advocate for anti-bullying as part of her school's peer mentoring programme and to winning a

Citizenship Award. Jonathan Alexander-Abt, Principal Orthodontist at Inline Orthodontics, commented: 'Bullying for whatever reason is deplorable and should never be tolerated. I feel

that it is important to raise awareness of this and reassure young people that there is something we can do to help them.' Inline Orthodontics was inspired to join the anti-bullying

campaign after reading about research which showed that being bullied is significantly associated with orthodontic treatment need. The practice's experience is that many young people

seek orthodontic treatment to help with their confidence or after having been bullied at school about their dental appearance. Anti-bullying resources can be downloaded from:

http://www.beatbullying.org/dox/resources/resources.html. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Stevenage orthodontic practice conducts

anti-bullying campaign. _Br Dent J_ 213, 591 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.1142 Download citation * Published: 21 December 2012 * Issue Date: 22 December 2012 * DOI:

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