Hu-Friedy, Chicago, announced its 2015 Annual Global Ortho Wire Bending Contest. For the past 12 years, Hu-Friedy has been challenging orthodontic residents and practitioners worldwide to showcase their creativity and wire-bending talents on-site at the annual American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) show, and recently through an online challenge.

Both the online and on-site contests offer two separate submission categories: Single Wire and Anything Goes. 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.

The Online Voter’s Choice Contest will accept submissions from February 17 to March 30, 2015. Contestants can enter on Hu-Friedy’s Facebook page or go directly to the website.

All entries will be posted to Hu-Friedy’s Facebook page beginning March 31, and voting will remain open until April 7. All online submissions are also eligible for the on-site contest at the AAO show. The winner(s) of the online contest will be announced on April 8 and displayed at the show. Winners will be automatically entered into the on-site contest.

The online winner for Anything Goes will receive $1,500 (retail value) worth of Hu-Friedy ortho instruments, and the Single Wire winner will win $500 (retail value) worth of instruments.

Submissions for the AAO on-site contest will be accepted at Hu-Friedy’s booth from the start of the show on May 16, 2015 until closing on May 18. Judging will take place the evening of May 18, and winners will be announced on May 20. Orthodontic wire and instruments will be available at the Hu-Friedy booth throughout the show for single wire submissions created on-site.

Both contests are open to global orthodontic residents and private practitioners.