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Reactions to JADA
sional journals in the world. The reader can quickly scan a clear index right on the cover. Its scholarly and scientific contents, form at and design have undergone little change over the years. Why does J r the ADA feel a need to radically change “o ur”journal? Is it because the editorial staff thinks th at dentists lack the intelligence and critical analytical skills others have? If th at is the case, may I suggest th at the new editor, and especially the executive editor, be cashiered. Do I like it? You asked! W illiam N. A lexander, D.D.S., MSEd. P rofessor and Chairman, D epartm ent o f D iagnostic S cien ces U niversity o f M ississippi M edical C enter Jackson, Miss.
You’ve done a great job with the new JADA. Finally it is relevant to the average dentist in the real world of clinical dentistry. Keep up the good work! L. R. V etter, D.D.S. W est Plains, Mo.
The transform ation of The Journal is indeed welcomed. For the first time in my professional career, I have enjoyed reading The Journal; not ju st spot reading, but from cover to cover. I look forward to future issues providing informative, interesting and readable articles. I am one infidel who agrees you have indeed taken a bold step. D on Boyden, D.D.S. M itchell, S.D.
I received the January 1991 issue today and noted several im provem ents in the form at and style. I am especially pleased with the larger “Letters to the Editor” 18
JADA, Vol. 122, March 1991
section. Ideally, JADA would publish alm ost every letter it receives. I m ust express concern over the direction the advertising has taken. Of the first 40 pages, there are full-page ads on all twenty right-hand pages. I know advertising is a necessary evil needed to keep ADA dues down, bu t I nearly w ent cross-eyed glancing back and forth between every page. But the advertisem ents that pushed my button are those dispersed among [procedure] codes. ... Advertising is necessary, but professional standards m ust be m aintained. I strongly urge you to publish future codes in a sensible m anner. Also, if the ADA is so desperately in need of advertising dollars, why not raise the advertising fees? Robert B. Stevenson, D.D.S., M.S. Columbus, Ohio
Congratulations on your change of form at of JADA!!! Since I graduated in 1974,1have only made occasional copies of articles that I felt were worth saving. The January 1991 issue of JADA is the FIRST A that I will actually m save in its entirety. Please keep it up. I a look forward to m ore articles such X as these. Earl L. Lord, D.D.S. Las Vegas
Bravo! If the first issue is indicative of w hat’s to come, the format changes are great. One reservation, however: the new breezy style of the various research reports is certainly more readable, but at w hat cost? Most of the text seems to consist of w hat one would term “discussion” in a
m ore traditional format. The reader is unduly steered towards authors’ conclusions since data are reported minimally if at all. Review of statistical methodology is virtually impossible. I suggest that JADA cease pub lishing research reports altogether if the new format is to be kept. Review articles would serve the m em bership better and limit con fusion over the ethereal turf be tween scientifically valid observa tions and the (necessary) opinionated assignm ent of meaningfulness to observed data. Mike Rethman, D.D.S. Columbia, Md.
It is quite obvious that the new procedure codes were deliberately presented in the January Journal in such a m anner so as to be impossible to recover and be useful. The dues paying members have again become the victims of our insensitive Great White Tower. We are expected to pay for the ADA staff to devise new codes and then are forced to buy a CDT1 in order to get the benefits WmB and use. ^ ^ B
No d o u b t th is ty p e of
B policy is ju st th e k in d of PR B th a t e n c o u ra g e s n ew J^ ^ B 9k
m e m b ers. Sad! Leo F. Bieser, D.D.S. O verland Park, Kan.
K E N N E D Y A N D HEALTH CARE
It was disappointing to see the JADA cover besmirched by Sen. Ted Kennedy. He is certainly no friend of dentistry and indeed of anyone who believes in working for a living. His national health program would be the ruination of the country. We plain can’t afford it. Brian Babin, D.D.S. W oodville, Texas
You’ve done a great job with the new JADA. Finally it is relevant to the average dentist in the real world of clinical dentistry. Keep up the good work! L. R. V etter, D.D.S. W est Plains, Mo.
The transform ation of The Journal is indeed welcomed. For the first time in my professional career, I have enjoyed reading The Journal; not ju st spot reading, but from cover to cover. I look forward to future issues providing informative, interesting and readable articles. I am one infidel who agrees you have indeed taken a bold step. D on Boyden, D.D.S. M itchell, S.D.
I received the January 1991 issue today and noted several im provem ents in the form at and style. I am especially pleased with the larger “Letters to the Editor” 18
JADA, Vol. 122, March 1991
section. Ideally, JADA would publish alm ost every letter it receives. I m ust express concern over the direction the advertising has taken. Of the first 40 pages, there are full-page ads on all twenty right-hand pages. I know advertising is a necessary evil needed to keep ADA dues down, bu t I nearly w ent cross-eyed glancing back and forth between every page. But the advertisem ents that pushed my button are those dispersed among [procedure] codes. ... Advertising is necessary, but professional standards m ust be m aintained. I strongly urge you to publish future codes in a sensible m anner. Also, if the ADA is so desperately in need of advertising dollars, why not raise the advertising fees? Robert B. Stevenson, D.D.S., M.S. Columbus, Ohio
Congratulations on your change of form at of JADA!!! Since I graduated in 1974,1have only made occasional copies of articles that I felt were worth saving. The January 1991 issue of JADA is the FIRST A that I will actually m save in its entirety. Please keep it up. I a look forward to m ore articles such X as these. Earl L. Lord, D.D.S. Las Vegas
Bravo! If the first issue is indicative of w hat’s to come, the format changes are great. One reservation, however: the new breezy style of the various research reports is certainly more readable, but at w hat cost? Most of the text seems to consist of w hat one would term “discussion” in a
m ore traditional format. The reader is unduly steered towards authors’ conclusions since data are reported minimally if at all. Review of statistical methodology is virtually impossible. I suggest that JADA cease pub lishing research reports altogether if the new format is to be kept. Review articles would serve the m em bership better and limit con fusion over the ethereal turf be tween scientifically valid observa tions and the (necessary) opinionated assignm ent of meaningfulness to observed data. Mike Rethman, D.D.S. Columbia, Md.
It is quite obvious that the new procedure codes were deliberately presented in the January Journal in such a m anner so as to be impossible to recover and be useful. The dues paying members have again become the victims of our insensitive Great White Tower. We are expected to pay for the ADA staff to devise new codes and then are forced to buy a CDT1 in order to get the benefits WmB and use. ^ ^ B
No d o u b t th is ty p e of
B policy is ju st th e k in d of PR B th a t e n c o u ra g e s n ew J^ ^ B 9k
m e m b ers. Sad! Leo F. Bieser, D.D.S. O verland Park, Kan.
K E N N E D Y A N D HEALTH CARE
It was disappointing to see the JADA cover besmirched by Sen. Ted Kennedy. He is certainly no friend of dentistry and indeed of anyone who believes in working for a living. His national health program would be the ruination of the country. We plain can’t afford it. Brian Babin, D.D.S. W oodville, Texas