I would like to commend Dr. Christensen for the opinions in his article, "Orthodontics and the General Practitioners" (March JADA).
As a pediatric dentist who has been providing orthodontic care to my patients for over 20 years, and as one who has given continuing education courses to general and pediatric dentists via proprietary institutions, I would like to add a word of caution to those dentists who might want to start treating orthodontic patients as a result of Dr. Christensen’s comments vis-à-vis clinical situations where orthodontic treatment by nonspecialists might be indicated and his endorsement of In-visalign: namely, the need for a thorough diagnosis and treatment plan and the ability to use comprehensive fixed appliances if limited treatment does not provide the intended results.
In orthodontics, as in every aspect of dentistry, an accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of treatment and, unfortunately, Dr. Christensen simplified the concept. It is not necessary to enroll in a two- or three-year postdoctoral program to learn diagnostic techniques, as ADA-certified continuing education courses in all phases of orthodontics are available from both dental schools and proprietary institutions.
But it is necessary to know cephalometrics, occlusion, model analysis, the influence of growth and development, temporomandibular joint considerations and the use of fixed appliances. A simple classification of the problem will not suffice.
In conclusion, there is nothing mysterious about orthodontics, as there is nothing mysterious about prosthodontics. But in order to ethically deliver these services, more than a cursory amount of knowledge, training and experience is necessary.
