LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Orthodontics--A great career and a wonderful profession! To the Editor: With all the negative things we hear day to day about dentistry and the health care profession. I just wanted to write and share this letter with you and the members of the American Association of Orthodontists. This summer a recent graduate from one of our high schools wanted to visit our office since she was interested in pursuing a career in dentistry. She had some time before she started college and wanted to visit various offices to give her an idea of how a dental office operated. She was valedictorian of her senior class and planning to attend Baylor University in the Fall. I feel that when we have such talented individuals wanting to go into the dental profession we should point out the positive aspects of our profession and do as much as we can to encourage these young people entering college to work towards applying to dental schools. I personally feel very fortunate to be an orthodontist because we basically work with healthy individuals who are excited about receiving our services. Our rewards are not only monetary but psychologically gratifying due to the beautiful and handsome faces we create. Because of our close involvement with our patients and their families over the years of treatment, there is a tendency to create close friendships, many of them lasting a lifetime. Philip J. Corbhl, DDS, MS 3419 Coulter #1 Amarillo, TX 79109 D e a r Dr. C o r b i n :
I would just like to take a brief moment of your time to thank you for letting me observe some of the procedures done in the office. Of all the dental offices that I have observed so far, your staff is one of the friendliest, courteous, and most caring team of professionals that I have ever met. Orthodontics is still the field that interests me the most. After visiting your office, I am even more convinced that a career in dentistry is just what I want. I know that you are very busy, and I hope that I was not too much trouble to have around the office. Thanks again for letting me observe you. May God continue to bless you. Linda Cheng
Further comment on bracket positioning To the Editor: I read with great interest the article, "Variations in Bracket Placement in the Preadjusted Orthodontic Ap-
pliance" (AM J ORTHOO DENTOFACORTHOP 1992;102:627). It is very encouraging to have ones own research findings confirmed by a different technique and with a larger sample size. Our study was limited to the maxillary anterior teeth of a single malocclusion. However, I agree with many of the author's findings regarding bracket positioning and would like to add further comments to the discussion. The clinical significance of bracket angulation on root position may be calculated by simple geometry using average tooth dimensions. Although it is likely that grossly inaccurate bracket positions would be identified and remedied relatively early in treatment less severe bracket placements may be overlooked. These incorrect bracket positions may impede space closure if root paralleling is impaired or prevent the achievement of Andrew's six keys. Do the authors feel that a vertical scribed line on the bracket or a jig designed to allow bracket placement at the midpoint of the clinical crown would reduce bracket angulation errors? Bracket inclination influences labiolingual torque and variations in this plane deserve consideration. Bracket adhesive thickness can influence effective torque. "A" Company brackets as used in both studies have bracket bases that are contoured mesiodistally and incisogingivally to allow an optimum fit to the labial crown contour. A variation in bracket angulation was recorded in both studies and may influence labiolingual torque by disturbing the position of the compound contoured bracket base on the labial crown surface. A variation in vertical discrepancy was also recorded. This may influence labiolingual torque because of the effect of the labial crown curvature. Placement of a bracket more incisally increases the labial crown torque, whereas gingival placement reduces effective torque. There is no doubt that further investigation is required to identify the most reliable technique for bracket placement, if we are to achieve the optimum performance from a preadjusted bracket system. N. O. Taylor St. George's Hospital Blackshaw Rd. London, SW17 OQT England REFERENCES 1. Taylor NG. The reliability of positioning straight-wire appliance brackets: an in vitro study. [MDSc thesis.] Leeds: University of Leeds, 1989. 2. Taylor NG. The reliability of positioning straight-wire appliance brackets. Br J Orthod 1990;17:66-7. 3. Taylor NG, Cook PA. The reliability of positioning pre-adjusted brackets: an in vitro study. Br J Orthod 1992;19:25-34.
Reply I wish to thank Dr. Taylor for his thoughtful comments on our article. He asks our opinion on a "vertical scribed line on the bracket or a jig" to reduce bracket angulation 23A
I would just like to take a brief moment of your time to thank you for letting me observe some of the procedures done in the office. Of all the dental offices that I have observed so far, your staff is one of the friendliest, courteous, and most caring team of professionals that I have ever met. Orthodontics is still the field that interests me the most. After visiting your office, I am even more convinced that a career in dentistry is just what I want. I know that you are very busy, and I hope that I was not too much trouble to have around the office. Thanks again for letting me observe you. May God continue to bless you. Linda Cheng
Further comment on bracket positioning To the Editor: I read with great interest the article, "Variations in Bracket Placement in the Preadjusted Orthodontic Ap-
pliance" (AM J ORTHOO DENTOFACORTHOP 1992;102:627). It is very encouraging to have ones own research findings confirmed by a different technique and with a larger sample size. Our study was limited to the maxillary anterior teeth of a single malocclusion. However, I agree with many of the author's findings regarding bracket positioning and would like to add further comments to the discussion. The clinical significance of bracket angulation on root position may be calculated by simple geometry using average tooth dimensions. Although it is likely that grossly inaccurate bracket positions would be identified and remedied relatively early in treatment less severe bracket placements may be overlooked. These incorrect bracket positions may impede space closure if root paralleling is impaired or prevent the achievement of Andrew's six keys. Do the authors feel that a vertical scribed line on the bracket or a jig designed to allow bracket placement at the midpoint of the clinical crown would reduce bracket angulation errors? Bracket inclination influences labiolingual torque and variations in this plane deserve consideration. Bracket adhesive thickness can influence effective torque. "A" Company brackets as used in both studies have bracket bases that are contoured mesiodistally and incisogingivally to allow an optimum fit to the labial crown contour. A variation in bracket angulation was recorded in both studies and may influence labiolingual torque by disturbing the position of the compound contoured bracket base on the labial crown surface. A variation in vertical discrepancy was also recorded. This may influence labiolingual torque because of the effect of the labial crown curvature. Placement of a bracket more incisally increases the labial crown torque, whereas gingival placement reduces effective torque. There is no doubt that further investigation is required to identify the most reliable technique for bracket placement, if we are to achieve the optimum performance from a preadjusted bracket system. N. O. Taylor St. George's Hospital Blackshaw Rd. London, SW17 OQT England REFERENCES 1. Taylor NG. The reliability of positioning straight-wire appliance brackets: an in vitro study. [MDSc thesis.] Leeds: University of Leeds, 1989. 2. Taylor NG. The reliability of positioning straight-wire appliance brackets. Br J Orthod 1990;17:66-7. 3. Taylor NG, Cook PA. The reliability of positioning pre-adjusted brackets: an in vitro study. Br J Orthod 1992;19:25-34.
Reply I wish to thank Dr. Taylor for his thoughtful comments on our article. He asks our opinion on a "vertical scribed line on the bracket or a jig" to reduce bracket angulation 23A
