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An educator, volunteer, dentist and pioneering society president, Dr Cecilia So is passionate about implantology and making women’s voices heard. By Kerryn Ramsey
In 2024, Dr Cecilia So became the first female president of the NSW branch of the Australasian Osseointegration Society (AOS).
“It’s been two years and I’m already coming to the end of my term,” Dr So says. “I was secretary to the previous president for eight years but I want to encourage movement and inspire our members. I believe that leadership change is a great way to keep ideas fresh and an enthusiasm for the society.” The society will be voting for a new president in October 2026.
According to the 2024/25 AHPRA annual report, females make up 57 per cent of dental professionals in Australia. This alone makes it important to see women at the head of committees and in positions of power.
“One of the tasks I gave myself was to nurture and empower women to have a seat at the table,” Dr So says. “I want them to take a chance and apply for these types of positions. Over the years, I often found I was the only woman on a variety of committees. During my time as president of AOS NSW, I have encouraged more women to be involved with the organisation.”
Significance of a society
The AOS is a non-profit, independent society dedicated to providing unbiased, evidence-based clinical and scientific education in implant dentistry. The membership consists of a national and international community of dental professionals while the NSW branch, based in Sydney, has an active program of lectures.
“It’s important to have a society based around osseointegration because implant dentistry is very different from general dentistry,” Dr So says.
“It’s a field of its own despite there being no specialty. The skills required include periodontology, prosthodontics, surgery and implantology. If anything is done incorrectly, there can be long-term consequences.”
The AOS held its first formation meeting in 1995 with Dr Alastair Stevenson as the first president. One of the founding members, Associate Professor George Pal, is currently the NSW branch representative on the federal AOS committee.
Over the years, I often found I was the only woman on a variety of committees. During my time as president of AOS NSW, I have encouraged more women to be involved with the organisation.
Dr Cecilia So, president, AOS NSW
“The AOS was originally set up as an educational society and to provide grants for research related to implants,” A/Prof Pal says. “The AOS state branches hold four evening meetings each year, usually with guest lecturers. The federal body moves from state to state every two years and organises a biannual conference. Recently the conferences have been held with the Australian Prosthodontic Society and the Australian Society of Periodontology. The NSW state branch has recently initiated a three-part implant course for dental graduates.”
A unique aspect of the AOS is that they are inclusive of general dentists, periodontists, prosthodontists, oral surgeons, dental technicians and maxillofacial surgeons. “It’s part of our constitution that a wide spectrum of practitioners be included in our membership,” Dr So says.
Female factor
A/Prof Pal was thrilled when Dr So became the first female president of the NSW branch.
“We’ve had many female board members but it’s very important to have a female president,” he says. “Today, 50 per cent of dental students are female. More than 50 per cent of practising dentists are female. Our society needs to represent our profession. Dr So has been an outstanding president, engaging younger members and embracing technology and social media.”
As president of the AOS NSW, Dr So was instrumental in getting more women to lecture. Just four years ago, she was on the committee organising the AOS Conference and there was not one woman on the lecturing platform.
“Once I pointed it out, the committee acted fast to redress the imbalance, inviting Dr Irena Sailer as the keynote,” she says. “As a profession, we need more women putting their hand up to be involved and active on boards and in committees. Often they wait to be asked but remain unseen. If anyone—but particularly any woman—is passionate about implant education in Australia, come and join us at AOS.”
Training and upskilling
The AOS has started a training course called Implant One, with the first session held in May this year. It’s a three-day intensive hands-on course specifically designed for dentists who want to take the next step into implant dentistry. The Implant One course is run in conjunction with the Australian Dental Association.
“The original training course had been running for around 30 years,” Dr So says. “We‘ve updated it to include digital technology. Participants get to take a digital scan and place a lateral incisor and a premolar in a model, one guided and one freehand. Dentists who have never placed an implant gain skills and confidence.”
The theory behind implantology is taught and the educators take the time to explain all the nuances and skills required. It’s a very different course to those advertised on Instagram.
As A/Prof points out, “The AOS is a proudly non-profit organisation. This means we are evidence-based, independent and non-biased.”
Student to educator
Graduating from the University of Sydney in 2003, Dr So worked at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health in special needs and general practice for three years. She then moved to England for two years working in a senior house officer training position at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The job provided general dentists training in oral surgery.
On returning to Australia, she joined the graduate diploma of oral implants course at the University of Sydney. Dr So completed the diploma course in 2012 and was chosen to join the steering committee as one of two graduates.
“I sat in on interviews and examinations,” Dr So says. “Over the next 10 years, I learned how to run a course, mentored by people in the education system.”
Today, as well as being president of the AOS NSW, Dr So works four days a week at Surgical Dental Services in Strathfield in inner-western Sydney. This is a referral practice where Dr So undertakes surgical work on wisdom teeth, third molars, extractions, rich preservation and implants.
“I’ll often mentor the referring dentist,” Dr So says. “They are involved with the treatment planning and I work with them to help improve their skills.”
Dr So has also embarked on a PhD through the University of Melbourne. She is researching person-centred care in the dental implant industry.
People are attracted to Instagramming, high marketing, and high visibility societies. Traditional not-for-profit societies are having trouble attracting members. It’s a shame because, generally, I believe we can supply better quality training at less cost and with more passion.
Dr Cecilia So, president, AOS NSW
“I need to talk to around 25 implant patients,” Dr So says. “I’ll be looking at their patient experience, pre- and post-treatment. I want to understand the interaction between dentist and patient throughout the whole process. If any dental professionals are interested in taking part, feel free to contact me at AOS.”
Volunteer spirit
Dr So is passionate about education and implantology, donating her time as president of AOS NSW.
“Nothing makes me happier than helping young dentists achieve their full potential,” she says. “I can advise them on courses or a career pathway or connection with a suitable mentor. That’s very fulfilling.”
The spirit of volunteerism runs deep in Dr So. She started the charity, YourAid, in Cambodia in 2009. The program provides dental care and clean water to communities in dire need of both. Dr So also sits on the board of the Bodhicitta Foundation, an Indian charity based in Nagpur. The foundation helps local women gain a variety of skills to help establish small businesses.
While there are many privately run, for-profit organisations servicing Australian dentistry, non-profits—such as AOS—are having a harder time of things. “People are attracted to Instagramming, high marketing, and high visibility societies,” Dr So says. “Traditional not-for-profit societies are having trouble attracting members. It’s a shame because, generally, I believe we can supply better quality training at less cost and with more passion.”
The AOS biannual conference will be held in August 2026 in conjunction with the Australian Prosthodontic Society. Visit www.aosapsconference.com.
For general information about events, training or membership visit: aos.org.au.
