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From the Editor ORTHO TRIBUNE | MAy 20102 T here once was a time when an orthodontist was required to learn how pinch-lapping bands, spot-welding brackets, bend loops, hooks and first-, second- and third-order bends in wires as well as various auxiliary appliances work. Diagnosis included drawing our own cephalometric X-rays and trimming our own diagnostic casts — putting the “plaster-on-the-table” as the saying goes. What has happened to change history? Are we better educated with greater expertise to serve the public, or are we restrained by the many technological advancements? For those who were privileged to have known or were taught by some of the great orthodontists of the past, you know how truly special it was. We were trained to provide services to the patient without any help from specialty companies. Today, clinicians have the luxury of sending out X-rays and casts — we don’t even have to bend wires any more with the current trends of out-of-the-box treatment. At some point, we must ask our- selves whether or not (a) technol- ogy is inhibiting or enhancing prog- ress, (b) patients are better served or merely recipients of technology, and (c) our brains are still allow- ing us to function as diagnosticians or are we simply office traffic-cops directing the flow of services pro- vided in and out of the office from outside help? The underpinnings of patient care and dignity are emphasized by the importance of delivering quality ser- vices. It may be easy imagining how failure to achieve standards of excel- lence might be a reflection of a cul- ture derived from poor training and fast-lane skills; they are often traced to economics and well-embedded in personal gains rather than providing the best services for patients. Although patients are unaware of these issues and typically impressed with having the latest or best-of- the-best, technologically advanced care, are they really better served or are we delusional? Difficulties are sometimes encountered in finding high-dependency treatment results from the so-called “advanced tech- nological improvements.” High-dependency treatment relates to the close proximity of observed results; low-dependency treatment occurs when accompa- nied by ignorance and is unrecog- nizable when we have no means of comparison or assessment. Issues of dignity and privacy may be com- promised in order to give priority to the seriousness of the patient’s care, especially in today’s modern society. Our decisions about patient care are often influenced by media and sales representatives rather than by our own sophisticated intelli- gence. It is sometimes difficult to find the accommodation appropri- ate to a specific patient’s needs, health and safety. The question is, “Will delusion become implanted in the legacy of orthodontics?” Decisions to maximize efficien- cy can be a double-edged sword, and we must be careful about what we wish for, as modernization may become our Achilles heel. Although the process of patient care being delivered with dignity and privacy is in a sensitive envi- ronment, these are issues not con- fined to the delivery of care, particu- larly when the decision is to provide the “best” care; it also relates to management decisions for personal gains or advantage. There is no question that tech- nology cannot be ignored, but nei- ther can it stand in the way of care or progress. However, appropriate application of standards for dig- nity, privacy and excellence to our patients should be aimed at avoid- ing gimmicks or attention-grabbers and confined to what we know in our hearts is righteous. Suggesting that it is exceptional for an orthodontist to have an atti- tude problem or lack the necessary training regarding issues of patient dignity and privacy is not intend- ed, and neither is it implied that the problem lies with teachers who have failed to acknowledge defi- ciencies in the fabric of the environ- ment in which care is being offered. However, it is incumbent upon educators not to be in denial of the structural inadequacies of technol- ogy, but rather to encourage indi- vidual thinking that is appropriate to achieve patient care with the supreme quality. Hopefully the present “golden- age” of orthodontics does not have a tarnished halo, and care for our patients is held first and foremost in our minds as well as our hearts. OT Jay Bowman, DMD, MSD (Journalism & Education) Robert Boyd, DDS, MEd (Periodontics & Education) Earl Broker, DDS (T.M.D. & Orofacial Pain) Tarek El-Baily, BDS, MS, MS, PhD (Research, Bioengineering & Education) Donald Giddon, DMD, PhD (Psychology & Education) Donald Machen, DMD, MSD, MD, JD, MBA (Medicine, Law & Business) James Mah, DDS, MSc, MRCD, DMSc (Craniofacial Imaging & Education) Richard Masella, DMD (Education) Malcolm Meister, DDS, MSM, JD (Law & Education) Harold Middleberg, DDS (Practice Management) Elliott Moskowitz, DDS, MSd (Journalism & Education) James Mulick, DDS, MSD (Craniofacial Research & Education) Ravindra Nanda, BDS, MDS, PhD (Biomechanics & Education) Edward O’Neil, MD (Internal Medicine) Donald Picard, DDS, MS (Accounting) Howard Sacks, DMD (Orthodontics) Glenn Sameshima, DDS, PhD (Research & Education) Daniel Sarya, DDS, MPH (Public Health) Keith Sherwood, DDS (Oral Surgery) James Souers, DDS (Orthodontics) Gregg Tartakow, DMD (Orthodontics) & Ortho Tribune Associate Editor Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus, t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Vice President Global Sales Peter Witteczek p.witteczek@dental-tribune.com Chief Operating Officer Eric Seid, e.seid@dental-tribune.com Group Editor & Designer Robin Goodman r.goodman@dental-tribune.com Editor in Chief Ortho Tribune Prof. Dennis Tartakow d.tartakow@dental-tribune.com International Editor Ortho Tribune Dr. Reiner Oemus r.oemus@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor/Designer Ortho Tribune & Show Dailies Kristine Colker, k.colker@dental-tribune.com Managing Editor/Designer Implant & Endo Tribunes Sierra Rendon, s.rendon@dental-tribune.com Online Editor Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com Product & Account Manager Humberto Estrada h.estrada@dental-tribune.com Product & Account Manager Mark Eisen, m.eisen@dental-tribune.com Product & Account Manager Gregg Willinger g.willinger@dental-tribune.com Marketing Manager Anna Wlodarczyk a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com Marketing & Sales Assistant Lorrie Young, l.young@dental-tribune.com C.E. Manager Julia Wehkamp j.wehkamp@dental-tribune.com Dental Tribune America, LLC 213 West 35th Street, Suite 801 New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 244-7181, Fax: (212) 244-7185 ORTHO TRIBUNE The World’s Orthodontic Newspaper · U.S. Edition Published by Dental Tribune America © 2010, Dental Tribune International GmbH All rights reserved. Dental Tribune makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for prod- uct names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. OT Editorial Advisory Board CorrectionsOT Ortho Tribune strives to maintain the utmost accuracy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a fac- tual error or content that requires clarification, please report the details to Managing Editor Kristine Colker at k.colker@dental-tribune.com. Image courtesy of Dr. Earl Broker. By Dennis J. Tartakow, DMD, MEd, PhD, Editor in Chief Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criticism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see more articles about? Let us know by e-mailing us at feedback@dental-tribune.com. If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an e-mail at database@dental-tribune. com and be sure to include which publication you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to 6 weeks to process. Has the ‘golden-age’ of orthodontics left the building?