Robert Murray Ricketts, 1920-2003

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Murray Ricketts, 1920-2003 Born in rural Indiana, Robert Murray Ricketts rose to a world-renowned position as an orthodontic thinker and teacher; he died June 18, 2003, at the age of 83. Dr Ricketts will be remembered for many things, but most of all for how he challenged us to seek the truth and to verify our beliefs with facts based on clinical studies. Ricketts graduated with honors from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1945; he earned a masters degree in orthodontics in 1950 from the University of Illinois. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He maintained a busy orthodontic practice in Pacific Palisades, Calif, and he taught, at various times, at Loma Linda University, the University of Illinois, UCLA, USC, and dozens of universities around the world. He authored over 300 refereed articles, book chapters, and texts on orthodontics, and he financed much, if not all, of his work from his private practice in Pacific Palisades. His reach was broader than orthodontics alone. He received a Merit Award from the American Society of Dentistry for Children, the William Cogswell Distinguished Service Award in Oral Surgery, the Albert H. Ketcham Award from the American Board of Orthodontics, the John Mershon lecture honor, the Associated Journals of Europe Award, the Strang Award from the Connecticut State Society of Orthodontics, and a Waldron Lecturer Award from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Among his countless other accomplishments: ● ●

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Developed the first straight-wire bracket in the .018-in slot, 1970 Developed the first cephalometric analysis that allowed clinicians to compare their patients with norms based on age, sex, and race (Ricketts analysis) Developed the first cephalometric diagnostic system to project treatment plus growth in treatment planning (VTO) Using the growth studies of Bjo¨rk, Moss, Scott, Petrovic, and others, developed a computer-generated method for projecting growth to maturity with the mandibular archial growth (long-range forecasting) method Pioneered the use of composite tracings to better understand normal growth patterns in various facial types

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2003;124:462-3 Copyright © 2003 by the American Association of Orthodontists. 0889-5406/2003/$30.00 ⫹ 0 doi:10.1067/S0889-5406(03)00733-9

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Developed computer-driven cephalometric diagnostics (Rocky Mountain Data Systems) Developed 5 arch forms used to individualize treatment outcomes (Pentamorphic arches) Developed “root ratings” based upon the works of Miura and Lee to quantify the forces necessary to move teeth in any plane of space Challenged the profession to learn and understand anatomy, growth, and development and their application in treatment decisions and mechanics Developed a hierarchy of anchorage in recognition that growth, then muscle, then cortical anchorage, then traditional tooth-based anchorage prevail in treatment mechanics Emphasized the facial orthopedic potential and challenged our profession to “treat faces, not teeth”; promoted the use of cervical headgear only for orthopedic correction Developed, with Ruel Bench and Carl Gugino, new appliance systems used by orthodontists worldwide, including quad helix, utility arches, sectionalization, and orthopedic correction with cervical headgear Developed, with Carl Gugino and Ruel Bench, the Bioprogressive Philosophy, a biological approach to diagnosis and treatment Stimulated orthodontic thinking about the possibilities of treatment with his publication of the “doctrine of limitations” in 1973

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American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Volume 124, Number 4

Above, left: Lysle Johnston Jr, Duane Grummons (as the referee), Ricketts, Art Story, and John Rugh reenact their debate. Above, right: Ricketts, during a lecture. Below, left: Jim Hilgers, Ricketts, Carl Gugino, and Ruel Bench, then; Center, Gugino and Ricketts, now. Right, Ricketts’ nutritionals. ●

Recognized and used facial proportions to treat dental and skeletal problems (the Divine Proportion)

First and foremost, Rick taught that we should love our patients, our work, and our profession. Be fair and honest with all concerned, he urged, and be a person of ethics and the finest character. He inspired us to do small things in great ways, with newness in thinking, spirit, persistence, and interest. He readily offered his shoulders for others to climb on and helped raise those around him to higher levels. He was a loyal friend and as beloved as a brother. As a teacher, Rick emphasized experience, awareness, and discipline. He taught students to think, be persistent and inquisitive, and seek the truth. He challenged, provoked, and taught that is was acceptable to disagree, but not to be disagreeable. He was quick to replace old knowledge with new, yet he stood strong on unchanging principles. He made learning interesting

and inspiring, conveying knowledge with meaning and vitality. Clinically, Rick emphasized individualization of facial morphologies far beyond malocclusions. He made clear that the driving force for orthodontics is esthetics. Biology, diagnostics, and mechanics are the key components of practice. He believed that the orthodontist of the future will be the one who gains perfection and stability of results with the fewest appliances. Improvement is not completion. Adversity, he taught, offered challenges that stimulate life. He perceived and sought beauty in each moment. The longer he lived, the more he realized the impact of attitude on life. Dr. Ricketts significantly influenced many lives. He once said in a lecture, “You won’t forget me; I will live forever . . . in your minds.” That he will. Duane Grummons Spokane, Wash