In which orthodontics discovers a defender

ITORIAL

a The specifics of this hassle seem to center awund eztruction versus no’nextraction rationales of orthodontic treatment. To suggest that one must never extract teeth for orthodontic care seems as patently ridiculous as to say one must al\vays eztruct teeth, yet I’ve Tlever heard an orthod’odist suggest always extract for proper treatment plannkg. One should be deeply suspicions of the always-never neuroses.

T

he words are those of William IA. Comcowich, and they were first published in response to various charges that had appeared in the letters column in the May issue of the Journal of the Colorado Dental Association. The “hassle” had involved fixed versus removable appliances as well as extraction, and Dr. Comcowich apparently concluded that the time had arrived for a general dentist to defend the honor and competence of his Colorado orthodontic colleagues. Dr. Comcowich’s understanding of orthodontic concepts and responsibilities will have the approval of every orthodontist. In his opening statement, for example, he says: Orthodontics, or

good

knowledge ment

has

periodontics,

been

or philosophy. our

expand the

art

continually

admired,

but

especially

in

and

skill

close

To one’s

will

surgery, not

where

Nor of

a sweeping,

has

and

scientific

improved. to

surely

gathered,

we

perience,

endodontics,

dentistry,

techniques As

and

like

restorative

there

this

believe mind

to

generalizing

the

rendered

agreement

augment to

the

in a treatment way,

where

ail on

the treat-

happen. and

a differing

prevention,

place

is universal

ever

information

treatment

gnathology,

reached

with

and to

be

its

dentistry

ex-

modified

strongly

belittle

serve

clinical

will

philosophy

view seems

it

patient

is to

be

proponents, poorly.

Dr. Comcowich is equally convincing when he urges what every profession stresses-comprehensive training as a prerequisite for specialty practice. In orthodontics, the common fear is undue emphasis on mechanics rather than on biology. The doctor again states his position clearly and concisely: Orthodontics a tooth in my

(even judgment,

is more I can

do

than

moving

that-sometimes

is predicated

on

teeth by

mechanically. accident)

a comprehensive

Any but

dentist

successful

understanding

can

move

orthodontics, of

growth

and

Editorial development

utilizing

been

moved,

there

they

will

be

portant,

in

that

a

their

apparatus,

and

assuring

a lifetime

If

a

to

acquire

price

is in

hurmony

that function

indeed

the

a

two-day

unfair

end. to

Let

both

me

the

say

better,

sell

such

dentist

and

my

own

practitioner

each

of

the

have

for

good

general

practitioner

him)

of

thus

recognize pay to

called two-week

a

this

commit-

orthodontists. course

beginning,

general

com-

pay

this

or

price

the

willing

manifested

one-

that

the

important,

been

are

surely

practitioner

care

taken

mountain

(let

not

an

to

me

seems

candor,

of

the

with I must

specialties

on

my

my

actuailly

does

sincerity

the

say

prevention,

for

patients-

It is specialty

who

first

in

I wish

lightly.

town

indicate

any

orthodontics

im-

stress;

to

A

the

be

bone-grafting,

attempt

that

more

neuromuscular

however,

orthodontic

to

me

do

the

have

patients.

However,

periodontics,

have

let

but,

willing

have

than

to

kind

a little

specialist.

there;

minimum

more

who

more

simplicity his

far have

most,

not

specialties,

the

dontics,

from

teeth

stay

goodness, be

but

excellence.

hardly

kids-is

of

but,

men

A few

to

the

fine;

skill,

practitioners;

it succinctly:

for

general

To

and

that

therefore,

Some

seems

the

just

pleasing, joints

is

and,

short-cuts

job)

the

movement,

is excellent.

no

esthetically with

mechanical

general

once

might

beauty.

background.

are

that,

they

arrangement

and

is tooth

treatment

there

their

so

that

only

is biomechanical only

are

acceptable

of

position of

not

Sadly, alone

or

is not

bioscientific their

ment

that

“bag”

and

approach

predictability

position

treatment

mensurate

biomechanical

further

dentist’s

competent

a

is a rational

525

care!

As

a good

I would

a

deal

high

regard

I

rather

have

a

on

me-i.e.,

surgery,

crown

and

bridge-than

endo(to

kids.

What brought this all to a head was Dr. Comcowich’s ire at certain attacks that had been made on the motives and competence of his Colorado orthodontic colleagues. Orthodontists generally are aware of the erroneous charges that occasionally come their way. It is always reassuring when a general dentist comes to our defense, for he often can do it better than we can do it ourselves. Dr. Comeowich did it well in his concluding paragraphs : But are!

what

If

really

one

where

feels

they

long

sections

of

Colorado

here

in

to

be

portance

this of

commended of the what

orthodontist

intimating fine fession

men,

a

lack

I feel exactly

hurts of the

is to

concern

compelled depth

of

surely time. of

see their

invite concern

the

critics,” been

be

appropriate

for

help in

in

some

an

other

misdirected

example,

gnathological

at

that

occlusion Colorado

in

with

appropriate

and

imply,

contrary,

motives

to the for

in

most betrays

orthodontists

understanding

the

im-

occlusion. and

question

patients. to

them

rendered

world.

have

leadership

direct

care

unwarranted

the

salvos

not

orthodontic

still

sound

of of

why

“out-of-town

To

To

called for

to

is

posture

friends

our

in

antiorthodontist

in the

might

situation. concepts

most

the

might

unaware

their

gnathological

Denver

or

point

are

for

by

critics,

criticism

Colorado

these

orthodontists,

that

leveled

this

area

the

as anywhere

in Colorado, this

the

Finally, my

as fine

at

misdirected on

I submit

in-town

country,

ignorance

shots

criticism

orthodontists

orthodontists

are

the

by

the

is how

lay

needed?

“out-of-touch” gone

me to

question

some

some

one’s

be

is without

Although era

need

might

Colorado from

“bugs” a

At

by the

attention patient

these risk

of care

professional

character

sweeping

osf embarrassing

the

Colorado

these

men

these

dental have

of

attacks, pro-

exercised

526

Editorial in

the

some

past.

specralty. and

Not as

in

do

men,

occasions, care

orthodontists, care

only

recent

orthodontic

pride

orthodontic

them

several

poor These

people the

On

overtly

acting

their without

charge. the

fine

therefore,

orthodontists

had

been

together

professionalism,

I admire and

these

which

with either

Isn’t

that

the

a

feeling

totally

aware

by of

retreated

men

in

of their

obligation or

to

completed

refreshing!

orthodontics

resent

became

rendered

done attacks

by upon

these

men,

them

in

the

but

We

in

I admire (Colorado)

Journal. In

my

continuation profession learn just

judgment

this

would

seem

have from

technical

much

orthodontic

dialogue to to

serve

learn

colleagues

has little

been

at

worthwhile

together-perhaps too,

and

best

unproductive, purpose. there

just

possibly,

is it

and

something might

be

further

the

dental we

more

can than

or scientific.

B. P. D.