Article
Orthodontics was listed as the number one profession in the United States of America in 2016 (www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/january/orthodontists-dentists-atop-list-of-best-jobs-in-us). The reasons given, according to the American Dental Association, were great growth potential, low unemployment and a healthy work-life balance – not to mention the enormous job satisfaction from treating and caring for our patients. The Bureau of Labor predicts that orthodontics will grow by 18% over the next decade. We are fortunate to be in such a rewarding and interesting profession which presents us all with so many professional challenges on a daily basis.
Some of these challenges are illustrated in the first paper by Bharmal and co-workers on the management of unerupted maxillary incisors. They discuss the aetiology, patient examination and management of three well-treated cases the likes of which all of us in clinical practice encounter not infrequently. They offer many useful tips which will help us provide the best treatment for these cases in the future.
A much rarer condition of Synovial Sarcoma is described in a case report, which is used as a vehicle to remind us all of the serious effect that modern cancer treatments can have on the erupting dentition. The article reminds us of all the various theories of tooth eruption and will act as a revision aid for those preparing for examinations in the near future, as well as helping us explain to our unfortunate patients why these eruption disturbances have occurred.
The problem of post-orthodontic caries is discussed in the second part of this excellent series which offers practical guidance to each and every one of us on management of this all too frequently encountered problem, providing the very latest literature to support the management strategies.
There is always room for more clinical pearls in Orthodontic Update and this issue has a top tip for those of you who regularly use the Microetcher in the surgery.
Coronectomy is a technique that was described by Brian O'Riordan in 2004 and since then has been whispered about in a few dark corridors … but few people have actually seen a case. Three fascinating and beautifully illustrated cases are presented by Marshall and Bryant and I think that this is a technique that deserves serious consideration in those extremely difficult cases where the benefit of intervention may not necessarily outweigh the downside … judge for yourselves.