Thoughts on orthodontic teaching with practical results

Abstract

T H E invitation to give a paper before this Society finds me in a position of apprehension. The difficulty is the choice of a subject. To choose anyone special part of the great specialty of orthodontia and present anything new, may only involve us in a debate, which will have no definite result, and the value be lost in side issues which bulk so largely in any discussion. Experience of twenty years of orthodontic study and practice and some ten years of active and definite teaching has led me to some conclusions which I venture to put before you this evening, in the hope that something may result which will afford us an interest which is at the moment lacking. I do not propose to enter into any questions tonight of treatment, diagnosis or apparatus, but to generalize on the question of orthodontia and the attitude the profession takes in regard to its practice. Is it one of silent' contempt due to many causes ~ Or, is the lack of interest due to the great amount of work which awaits us and prevents research in this and so many branches of our specialty ~ May I digress for a moment and ask your permission to state briefly the position of orthodontia in this country ~ This Society was formed by a few enthusiasts to study orthodontia as a live science, and one may assume thereby to be helpful to the profession and through it to the nation. After years, what is the result-a very small Society doing a useful work in a very limited sphere-its meetings largely confined to individual criticism and ideas of treatment-no enlarged view of the usefulness of work that may be done and should be encouraged-and in consequence still an indefinite idea in the mind of the average general practitioner that orthodontia is anything more than a fad and only for the specialist, and cannot be undertaken save at great personal worry and disappointment. With this attitude I entirely agree and for this reason that no endeavor has been made by individual or school to educate and instruct the profession or public in the value of skilled treatment. It must be remembered that the bulk of practitioners do not read any great amount of current dental literature. A difficulty to combat is the lack of appreciation of the principles involved in the discussion of any point (apart from the obviously simple), which is so entirely essential in the study and practice of orthodontia, and with all respect to some, treatment so often follows a line of compromise that the underlying principles probably get lost in the transaction. Too often difficulties are foreseen which never arise, likewise too, cases are regarded as quite