Orthodontic procedure based upon a consideration of individual differences

Abstract

I T IS the purpose of this paper to describe certain procedures and certain pieces of equipment which I believe to be of value in the practice of orthodontics. They have to do with the gatherin, v and recording of orthodontic information, and, though they are essentially familiar to all of you, they embody modifications which arc calculated to adapt them to the practical application of a viewpoint-a viewpoint based primarily upon a consideration of individual differences. It, is in t,his light that they are significant; therefore I shall first discuss individual differences, their signifivance IO the medical sciences in general and to orthodontics in particular. By individual differences I mean those differences in characteristics and attributes which are disclosed by a comparison, not of groups of people, but of individuals-differences of structure, function, and response to environment, complicated as they are by still further differences imposed by growth and development. These differences are HO numerous and, in many instances, so obvious that their existence can scarcely be denied; yet there are those who prefer t,o disregard them and others to whom they are merely a subject for speculation, of concern perhaps, to students and research workers, but of little significance to the everyday practice of medicine and its branches. A brief survey of the literature, the activities of research institutions and of various medical and dental groups is suf!ficient, to indicate, however, that there is an increasing number of others who feel that, this subject is eminent,ly practical.” In orthodontics, as in the other medical sciences, it is only in recent years that we have become greatly concerned with the individual. It is true that we have always treated individuals, but in the consideration of’ our problems we have dealt almost exclusively with that highly theoretical abstraction, the Human Being. There are, of course, a number of very good reasons why we have done so, most of them hinging upon the limitations of our own reasoning powers and the fact that the Human Being is much easier to deal with. His various characteristics can be studied and described rather readily, and he can be made to fit the laws, systems, and mathematical formulas which we devise for him. Individuals are not so easily dealt with. Consequently, t,he Human Being has been the prominent character in most of the textbooks with which we are familiar, a composite creature, made up for the most part of averages. Our