Clinical Orthodontics

Studying oral health in the United States vs. foreign countries

The aim of this study was to compare the oral health status of underserved individuals in the United States with underserved individuals in two other countries, Colombia and Kenya. Each year, dental students from the Ostrow School of Dentistry of University of Southern California (USC), Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program (DHOP) travel overseas to countries where residents with untreated dental problems have no access to dental care.

An interview with orthodontic appliance inventor Earl O. Bergersen

During the recent American Association of Orthodontists meeting in Philadelphia, orthodontic appliance inventor Earl O. Bergersen, DDS, MSD, presented seminars on efficient and cost-effective techniques for straightening teeth without braces. He sat down to talk about some of his appliances and how they are used in the treatment of patients.

Teaching residents to act morally in the presence of risk

As Rushworth Kidder (2006) suggested, moral courage bridges talking ethically and performing ethically. Although Kidder’s book is meant for everyone, it is a must for physicians and dentists. Performing ethically is not always easy and is therefore important to be stressed during formal educational programs. Dental students must recognize that moral courage is frequently needed to address ethical issues in order to take action for doing the right thing when questionable issues arise with patients ...

Help patients navigate orthodontics with ease

Between 1982 and 2008, the number of people getting braces in the U.S. increased by 99 percent, according to the AAO Patient Census Study conducted by the American Association of Orthodontics. This dramatic growth has resulted in a large number of patients looking for information to prepare for orthodontic treatment and guide them through the often challenging process.

State and regional board examinations of dental students’ performance, ethics and professionalism

Do dental students treat patients holistically and humanely during dental competency examinations? As student dentists progress through their education, clinical skills are learned and then challenged during competency and licensure exams to make certain that the student is prepared to practice dentistry independently. State and regional board examiners detail the requirements and percentage value for caries preparation form, restoration anatomy and integrity, and the maximum length of time allowed ...

A review of the original Combination Technique and philosophy

During the 1960s, when the Begg lightwire and the Tweed edgewise were the mainstream techniques of orthodontic therapy, Dr. Maxwell Fogel and Dr. Jack Magill introduced their “Combination Technique” (Fogel & Magill, 1969). The Combination Technique’s philosophy was based on combining the positive and significant attributes of Begg lightwire and Tweed edgewise techniques to produce a system that corrected malocclusions quickly and easily for the orthodontist.

What is pragmatic research?

As my last two editorials concentrated on research, it would be fitting to present another research matter known as pragmatic research, which is certainly not new but essential and practical to life and research. A research problem must be examined through various social science theories in order to structure the interpretive lens of the postmodern perspective for classification of those factors that serve all individuals, including disadvantaged and excluded individuals of different races, cultures ...

Tooth positioning appliances: An orthodontist’s experience

I’ve been actively involved with early treatment ever since I first saw Jim McNamara in the early 1980s. Since that time, I’ve seen a lot of theories and “systems” come and go. As a specialist with a university training that taught me 14 different treatment styles (University of Pennsylvania, DMD, 1978, and Fairleigh Dickinson University, orthodontics, 1983) I’ve become accustomed to evaluating different ideas, both clinical and research-based and offering my patients ...

What does it mean to ‘do research’? (Part Two)

As Part 1 left off, the following outline and categories explain the differences between various research approaches: I) Quantitative research; II) Qualitative research (phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory and historical); and III) Mixed research.

What does it mean to ‘do research’? (Part One)

When students and residents talk about “doing research,” many are not thinking in the realm of classic research approaches, but rather writing an article on a specific topic or exploring a limited clinical project. Most medical and dental students think about the quantitative approach because it has been used as the method of choice for many years, whereas the social science students are more familiar with qualitative methodologies.

How to avoid extractions when treating malocclusions using MRC’s Bent Wire System (BWS) and Trainer System for arch development

Abstract: Maxillary and mandibular expansion has been proposed to increase the arch perimeter and to avoid extractions during orthodontic treatment. Although controversy has persisted over the stability of expansion techniques, there is an increasing trend toward “non-extraction.” This article describes a novel method to produce expansion of the dental arches, and at the same time, to treat muscular dysfunctions which may be the etiological factor of the malocclusion.

Orthognathic surgery and recovery have different anesthetic requirements

Orthognathic surgery, affecting the jaws and face, requires a balancing act in anesthetic technique. Limiting blood loss, avoiding respiratory depression, and averting postoperative nausea and vomiting lead to optimum patient outcomes. The use of the drugs propofol and remifentanil are increasing because they can meet these needs; however, patients may subsequently experience more postoperative pain.