Dr Sunil Hirani makes history as the first and only UK Orthodontist to ever pass the higher level ESLO board exam!
Specialist Orthodontist Dr Sunil Hirani is celebrating after recently passing the higher level European Society of Lingual Orthodontics (ESLO) exam (Figures 1 and 2).
Lingual orthodontics involves treating patients discreetly with braces ‘behind their teeth’. This technique known as invisible braces is very technically demanding. Lingual orthodontics is an advanced sub-specialty of orthodontics.
There are currently about 1500 registered specialist orthodontists in the UK and less than 3% of them can proficiently undertake lingual orthodontic treatment. The main reason for this is the very high level of skill required as it takes many years to master.
Dr Hirani was one of seven candidates to sit the exam, which took place at the 14th ESLO Congress in Sorrento, Italy in June 2022. He is now the only orthodontist in the UK to possess this qualification from a population of 67 million.
A panel of lingual examiners assessed Dr Hirani’s five challenging cases. About 50 individuals have passed this exceptionally difficult exam worldwide, so it’s a fantastic achievement.
Dr Hirani is the only consultant-trained specialist in the UK to hold this esteemed qualification. The candidate sitting the exam is usually a specialist for at least 10 years. He is also the first British Asian to ever have achieved this accolade.
As chairman of the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS), Dr Hirani is committed to raising the profile of lingual orthodontics (invisible braces) in the UK.
Dr Hirani, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have passed this examination. It reflects the steps that I have slowly climbed over the last 19 years as a specialist. It is my family and faith that have kept me very focused.”
