2009 Summer Movie Bash

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

Who: Our Patients and Your “Best Friend”

All orthodontic patients of the office of Dr. Robert P. Fields, your friendly neighborhood Orthodontist, are invited to attend the opening night & private showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Please bring your very “Best Friend” along to help celebrate & participate in all of the Fun and Excitement of the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

What: Patient Appreciation Event

This exciting Annual Summer Event & Movie Night is sponsored by the Orthodontic office of Dr. Robert P. Fields in appreciation for all of the “Beautiful Smiles” of the many patients that have visited his office over the past sixteen years. Here’s to all of our patients and their “Beautiful Smiles”, “Happy Faces”, our Great Friends, and to a Wonderful Summer of Fun in the Sun!

When: Friday, July 17th

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will premiere in July, and you are invited to be our guest on the opening night which will be Friday, July 17th…. Date & Time are subject to change! Plan to attend and enjoy a Night into the enchanting world of Harry Potter.

Where: AMC Movie Theaters (OP Mall)

The Movie Night event will be held at the Orange Park Mall in the AMC Movie Theaters which is located at 1910 Wells Road, Orange Park, Florida 32073. If you need directions, please feel free to contact our office at 904-269-2022.

How: Procedure for Reserving Your Seats

Movie “Vouchers”, which will entitle each patient to two (2) Movie “Tickets” to see the movie at our private showing on Friday, July 17th, will be provided to each patient who “reserves” their tickets in advance. Movie Vouchers will be distributed on a “first come” basis and continue until all of the seats in the reserved movie theater (approximately 500 tickets) have been distributed. Movie Vouchers may be picked up from either of our two convenient office locations in Fleming Island or Orange Park starting on July 6th.

Movie “Voucher” Pick-Up Times & Locations:

Orange Park Office:

Dr. Robert P. Fields
421 Kingsley Avenue
Bldg. 300, Suites 301
Orange Park, FL 32073
904-269-2022

July 6th Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 8th Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 14th Tuesday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Fleming Island Office:

Dr. Robert P. Fields
2245 Plantation Center Drive
Bldg. 6, Suites 34 & 35
Fleming Island, FL 32003
904-269-2022

July 7th Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 9th Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 13th Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Additional Tickets for “Family & Friends”

“Friends & Family” are also invited to attend this Special Summer Bash Event. Additional tickets for all of your Friends & Family will be made available for purchase at a discounted rate of $6.00 per ticket. Friends & Family can reserve a seat by contacting our office at any of the “Movie Voucher Pick-up Times” and pre-pay for your “Movie Tickets”. “Movie Vouchers” will be provided at that time which will be redeemable for your actual “Movie Tickets” during the “Movie Ticket Distribution” at the AMC Movie Theater inside the Orange Park Mall on Friday, July 17th.

Movie “Ticket” Distribution

You can pick up your actual “Movie Tickets” at the Orange Park Mall AMC Movie Theater, on Friday, July 17th from 5:00 pm until 5:15 pm. Our office will have a movie ticket distribution table in the lobby of the Orange Park AMC Movie Theater, and our staff will be glad to assist you with your movie tickets and theater passes.

NOTE: YOU MUST BRING YOUR MOVIE VOUCHERS WITH YOU IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR ACTUAL MOVIE TICKETS.

Please present your movie vouchers to our staff by lining up according to your last name. You will then receive your movie tickets along with a gift bag, and an entry ticket for special event prizes & drawings. Then, LET THE FUN begin.

Details and Information:

For any additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact our office at any time as our office staff will be glad to assist you in any way possible. Our office telephone number is 904-269-2022.

Thoughts and Quotes: "Change"

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt

Suresmile

The latest advances in clinical technology now allow for the use of robotics to bend the orthodontic wires so that individual tooth movements can be incorporated simultaneously throughout the entire mouth. Therefore, the actual treatment results are completed more quickly .... approximately 40% faster than traditional braces! The most amazing aspect of this technology is that the robots can place bends in the wires in all three planes of space for every tooth, and it can all be completed at the same time.

The Answer for today's Twitter Contest: SURESMILE

Tweet back the answer, and you win raffle tickets for the prizes and drawing to be held at the annual Summer Movie Bash event in July! Hope to see you there.

Invisalign & Vivera Retainers

"Align Technology, Inc. today announced the launch of Vivera retainers, a new subscription-based program that delivers clear, fresh retainers to orthodontic patients every three months for an entire year. Studies show that without retention, even perfectly aligned teeth can gradually revert to their pre-treatment state, and that dentition continues to change into a patient's 50s and beyond.

Vivera retainers is an effective, aesthetic retention solution that delivers new retainers directly to patients or to the treating doctor four times a year. Unlike other traditional clear retainers, Vivera retainers are made with the same state-of-the-art technology as Invisalign aligners, which employ 3-D digital imaging, proprietary clear thermoplastic material and advanced fabrication technology to create a strong retainer with a precise, comfortable fit.

Retainers need to be strong enough to maintain tooth position. Align's lab tests show that Vivera's proprietary thermoplastic material is more than 30 percent stronger than other leading clear retainer materials. That strength is a key quality for retaining teeth in their final position. Align's research also demonstrates that many clear thermoplastic retainers begin to deform (warp or crack) after as little as two months of simulated daytime wear, impacting their ability to maintain teeth in their final retained position.

"Vivera retainers were created to fit the needs of patients' busy lifestyles," stated Rick Matty, general manager, new products at Align Technology. "Not only do patients get the convenience of fresh retainers delivered to their door throughout the year, they get a retainer that works."

"Vivera retainers are going to help me keep my patients in working retention," said Kenneth Carver DDS. Dr. Carver has a private practice in Kingsport, Tennessee and is CEO of U.S. Dental Institute, an organization that has provided continuing education courses to dental professionals for more than thirty years. "Vivera is a complete program that overcomes the typical barriers to good retention by delivering fresh, aesthetic retainers on a set schedule and by providing an easy process for replacing lost or damaged retainers."

Article Reference Source: Align Technology

Thoughts and Quotes: "Success"

Success is the result of Good Judgment,
Good Judgment is the result of Experience, and
Experience is often the result of Bad Judgment!

Tony Robbins

2009 Summer Movie Bash (Movie Trailer)

This year's Summer Movie Bash may be the Best Ever! Take a moment check out the movie trailer through the following link ...... It appears to be truly amazing!

http://cli.gs/DT2vQQ

If you would like more information pertaining to the 2009 Summer Movie Bash, please review to the blog entry that was made on May 13, 2009. Additionally, you can also follow our office twitter account at http://twitter.com/DrRobertFields in order to keep up-to-date with all of the latest details and to participate in the prizes and giveaways that will be occurring during the event in July 2009. Hope to see you there!

Orthodontics

"Orthodontics is the specialized field of dentistry concerned with treatment, correction and prevention of malocclusion of teeth. The word malocclusion refers to “improper or irregular bites” and is the direct opposite of the term occlusion. Within the entire field of dentistry, Orthodontics is probably the most well-known specialized branch and is largely associated with braces, which will be explored in this article.

Why?

You may be wondering what exactly is the purpose of Orthodontics and why a specialized field has been developed for this. You may even be wondering why a normal dentist could not practice what an orthodontist does.

Orthodontics is sought for two main reasons. Firstly, it is sought for the practical reason of providing the patient with a fully functional, improved and regular bite. It certainly isn’t too comfortable eating with a bite that’s slightly out of line and twisted. This is by far the number one reason why Orthodontics is sought.

The other reason why people seek this type of treatment is for purely aesthetic reasons (or more commonly known as cosmetic reasons). The patient may already possess a regular bite, however, they are not satisfied with the appearance of their teeth especially when they smile. The amount of people seeking Orthodontics for this very reason has been growing rapidly over the last couple of years.

Benefits

There are several benefits that can be gained from seeking Orthodontics apart from simply improving an irregular bite or improving the appearance of your teeth. Below are some of these.

Orthodontics allows people to experience long-term dental health. This is because properly aligned teeth makes it easier to maintain a good level of oral hygiene. Crooked teeth always make it difficult to reach certain places when cleaning your teeth. This in turn, reduces the risk of tooth decay.

One of the most unknown benefits of Orthodontics, is the fact that a good bite can allow you to chew more efficiently leading to improved digestion. Those can cannot chew in an efficient manner can potentially experience nutritional deficiencies.

In addition, seeking treatment from an orthodontist can improve your speech. Many people who possess misaligned teeth experience speaking difficulties which can be easily resolved by repositioning teeth.

Lastly, it’s an unknown fact that those with improper bites are also the ones whose back teeth will wear out more quickly than normal. Orthodontics is able to treat such a problem and give you better, healthier teeth in the long-term.

What Tools Are Used?

There are number of tools are that commonly used in the field of Orthodontics. However, there are 2 main ones which will now be quickly discussed.

The most common tool and the one which Orthodontics is most associated with are dental braces (orthodontic braces). These are used to align people’s teeth according to their bite. Orthodontists have to assess a person’s correct or ideal bite before proceeding to putting braces on the teeth.

The next most common tools in Orthodontics are retainers, which may be used for 2 different reasons. They may be used to realign teeth before using dental braces or after using dental braces to hold teeth in their new position. They are typically made out of wires and plastic.

There’s no doubt that dental care is an important facet of your health and that Orthodontics is one of the best ways to achieve this."

Article Source: http://www.dentalcarecentral.net/dental-services/orthodontics

Happy Memorial Day

Here's a Salute to all of our military veterans! A sincerely grateful nation is appreciative of all of the sacrifices to the principles of freedom that our country holds so dear ... We are all thankful for your service and dedication!

Quotes and Thoughts: "Good Men"

"A good man does not give orders, but leads by example."

Confucius

Dental Update: Clean Teeth & Brain Power

Here's an interesting article about the importance of routine dental cleanings and research into a possible relationship to your brain. Remember - Dental cleanings should be completed every six months or more frequently when recommended by your family dentist or periodontist. If you have not had a cleaning recently, please contact your dentist to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Twitter Contest Answer: Dental Cleanings


Clean Teeth May Improve Your Brain
By Erica Goodstone, Ph.D.

"New finding. Surprising results. Seeing your dentist regularly may actually help your brain. It seems that periodontal problems, also known as gum disease, may be related to onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

· Do you floss your teeth every night?
· Do you floss your teeth between meals?
· Do you floss your teeth properly?
· Have you seen your dentist lately?
· Do you have any bleeding or soreness in your gums?

Some of us tend to avoid seeing the dentist as regularly as we have been told we should. Some of us avoid flossing our teeth because it can be difficult to get between tightly packed teeth and sometimes the floss can tear in the process. Lately, many of us are struggling with financial deficits, debts and problems. And, there are not many really good dental health plans to alleviate some of the financial burden of having our teeth properly checked.

So, you may have been thinking, "It's only my teeth. If the problem gets severe enough, the dentist will just extract the tooth, and I'll be done with it." If this is the way you've been handling your dental health - or - if you've just been putting off that needed dental appointment to buy some item for your house, to go on a fun vacation, to buy some extra clothes, or for some frivolous fun, think again. At New York University, a team of doctors have recently linked Alzheimer's Disease to periodontal problems, i.e., gum disease. These doctors have found high levels of bacterial infections that elevate inflammatory molecules in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. This current research corroborate earlier research form The University of British Columbia, which revealed high levels of the same bacteria found in periodontal disease within the brains of patients suffering from dementia.

These doctors are not suggesting that just clearing up periodontal problems will immediately heal Alzheimer's Disease. However, the research does suggest that a clean bill of dental health may slow the progression of this debilitating disease. Angela Kamer, Assistant Professor at the NYU College of Dentistry and her research team, compared the brain function of 18 Alzheimer's patients at an early stage of the disease with what is considered "normal brain function." What they discovered is that 72% of the Alzheimer's patients had an antibody associated with periodontal bacteria, whereas only 38% of the normal group had such an antibody.

I am not a dentist and have no affiliation with the field of dentistry. I just found this study to be an alarming wake up call. So - if you've been putting off that dreaded visit to your local dentist or if you've had pain and bleeding gums for awhile and you think that's just because you have more sensitive gums, or some such incorrect assessment - think again. Taking care of your teeth may help to preserve your health in ways that you do not realize, perhaps even beyond this recent research about Alzheimer's."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Goodstone,_Ph.D."

Thoughts and Quotes: "Change"

"Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

President John F. Kennedy

Bleaching: White Smiles after Braces

Have you ever considered bleaching your teeth? Bleaching can provide a whiter and brighter smile. After completion of orthodontic treatment, bleach is especially effective and a perfect final touch to that beautiful smile. Here's an informational article about bleaching that will assist you with understanding your treatment options. Visit your orthodontist and get a brighter smile today.

Make Your Teeth Bright White
By Staci Anderson

"Many people love the look of bright white teeth, but they are unsure about the procedures. What works and what doesn't work? There are many ways you can go about whitening your teeth and stay within your budget. Stop wishing and start taking steps to make your teeth bright white:

- There are many options at the drugstore for a cheap option. Get a whitening toothpaste, mouthwash and white strips and use them together. You will notice a change in just a few days.

- Whitening trays can be ordered from your dentist. Usually the treatment lasts about 4 weeks and many people see astonishing results.

- Your dentist also might be able to offer you ultra-violet light treatment for a white blast. You teeth will immediately be whiter, but this is the more costly option.

- Stop drinking colas and coffee. These drinks stain your teeth and can build up over the years until you have very yellow teeth.

- Make sure you are getting enough nutrition. If your body is lacking nutrients like calcium, your teeth will not achieve the whiteness you desire.

- Take into account your skin tone. If you are pale, your teeth may not appear as bright as they actually are.

Make your teeth bright white by following the directions above and then deciding which option is going to be right for you. Many people are managing to achieve bright white teeth without breaking the bank. In return, they are more confident and willing to take chances in their life. Start making your life better by whitening your teeth!"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Staci_Anderson

Thoughts and Quotes: Be True ....

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.

Henry David Thoreau

Orthodontic Treatment with Suresmile (Robotics)

The latest advances in clinical technology now allow for the use of robotics to bend the orthodontic wires so that individual tooth movements can be incorporated simultaneously throughout the entire mouth. Therefore, the actual treatment results are completed more quickly .... approximately 40% faster than traditional braces! The most amazing aspect of this technology is that the robots can place bends in the wires in all three planes of space for every tooth, and it can all be completed at the same time.

The Answer for today's Twitter Contest: SURESMILE

Tweet back the answer, and you win raffle tickets for the prizes and drawing to be held at the annual Summer Movie Bash event in July! Hope to see you there.

2009 Summer Movie Bash (Movie Trailer)

This year's Summer Movie Bash may be the Best Ever! Take a moment check out the movie trailer through the following link ...... It appears to be truly amazing!

http://cli.gs/DT2vQQ

If you would like more information pertaining to the 2009 Summer Movie Bash, please review to the blog entry that was made on May 13, 2009. Additionally, you can also follow our office twitter account at http://twitter.com/DrRobertFields in order to keep up-to-date with all of the latest details and to participate in the prizes and giveaways that will be occurring during the event in July 2009. Hope to see you there!

2009 Summer Movie Bash (Twitter Contest)

For those participating in the Twitter contest for the free raffle tickets for the 2009 Summer Movie Bash, here's the Answer for today's Tweet Question:

"Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince"

Raffle tickets will be awarded to the first three (3) tweeters who can "tweet" back with the correct answer to today's twitter question. Raffle tickets may be claimed at any time prior to the contest drawing by calling 269-2022 or by visiting the Orthodontic Office of Dr. Robert Fields. You may win as many raffle tickets as possible ..... Tweeters who earn the most raffle tickets will have the greatest chance of winning the contest drawings and/or receiving "free" movie tickets to this year's Summer Movie Bash.

Best of Luck and Have a Great "Tweet" of a Day!

Thoughts and Quotes: Angels

To see an Angel, you must see another's soul.

To feel an Angel, you must touch another's heart.

To hear an Angel, you must listen to both...

Twitter Update for 2009 Summer Movie Bash

The 2009 Summer Movie Bash is scheduled for July! This year's show will be the new Harry Potter movie, and it should be quite an event. As in the past, the Summer Movie Bash will have a private viewing of this film on Friday night at the AMC 24 Theater in Orange Park, Florida. There will prizes, raffles, and FREE movie tickets for the VIP guests - Our Orthodontic Patients, their friends and family. Everyone is eligible to win ...

Stay tuned to Twitter and follow our office account at http://twitter.com/DrRobertFields in order to track the event and participate in this annual summer evening of movie fun. The twitter account will keep you up-to-date on all of the details plus you can "Tweet" to WIN raffle tickets for the giveaway drawings. Tweets will be sent out every week, and the first people to respond will receive raffle tickets & prizes to be given away at the 2009 Summer Movie Bash. Additional information can be found on through our blog or on our website:

http://www.smilesunderconstruction.com/home.asp

Stay tuned for more details, win lots of raffle tickets, and See You At The Movies!

2009 Summer Movie Bash

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

Who: Our Patients and Your “Best Friend”

All orthodontic patients of the office of Dr. Robert P. Fields, your friendly neighborhood Orthodontist, are invited to attend the opening night & private showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Please bring your very “Best Friend” along to help celebrate & participate in all of the Fun and Excitement of the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

What: Patient Appreciation Event

This exciting Annual Summer Event & Movie Night is sponsored by the Orthodontic office of Dr. Robert P. Fields in appreciation for all of the “Beautiful Smiles” of the many patients that have visited his office over the past sixteen years. Here’s to all of our patients and their “Beautiful Smiles”, “Happy Faces”, our Great Friends, and to a Wonderful Summer of Fun in the Sun!

When: Friday, July 17th

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will premiere in July, and you are invited to be our guest on the opening night which will be Friday, July 17th…. Date & Time are subject to change! Plan to attend and enjoy a Night into the enchanting world of Harry Potter.

Where: AMC Movie Theaters (OP Mall)

The Movie Night event will be held at the Orange Park Mall in the AMC Movie Theaters which is located at 1910 Wells Road, Orange Park, Florida 32073. If you need directions, please feel free to contact our office at 904-269-2022.

How: Procedure for Reserving Your Seats

Movie “Vouchers”, which will entitle each patient to two (2) Movie “Tickets” to see the movie at our private showing on Friday, July 17th, will be provided to each patient who “reserves” their tickets in advance. Movie Vouchers will be distributed on a “first come” basis and continue until all of the seats in the reserved movie theater (approximately 500 tickets) have been distributed. Movie Vouchers may be picked up from either of our two convenient office locations in Fleming Island or Orange Park starting on July 6th.

Movie “Voucher” Pick-Up Times & Locations:

Orange Park Office:

Dr. Robert P. Fields
421 Kingsley Avenue
Bldg. 300, Suites 301
Orange Park, FL 32073
904-269-2022

July 6th Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 8th Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 14th Tuesday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Fleming Island Office:

Dr. Robert P. Fields
2245 Plantation Center Drive
Bldg. 6, Suites 34 & 35
Fleming Island, FL 32003
904-269-2022

July 7th Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 9th Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
July 13th Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Additional Tickets for “Family & Friends”

“Friends & Family” are also invited to attend this Special Summer Bash Event. Additional tickets for all of your Friends & Family will be made available for purchase at a discounted rate of $6.00 per ticket. Friends & Family can reserve a seat by contacting our office at any of the “Movie Voucher Pick-up Times” and pre-pay for your “Movie Tickets”. “Movie Vouchers” will be provided at that time which will be redeemable for your actual “Movie Tickets” during the “Movie Ticket Distribution” at the AMC Movie Theater inside the Orange Park Mall on Friday, July 17th.

Movie “Ticket” Distribution

You can pick up your actual “Movie Tickets” at the Orange Park Mall AMC Movie Theater, on Friday, July 17th from 5:00 pm until 5:15 pm. Our office will have a movie ticket distribution table in the lobby of the Orange Park AMC Movie Theater, and our staff will be glad to assist you with your movie tickets and theater passes.

NOTE: YOU MUST BRING YOUR MOVIE VOUCHERS WITH YOU IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR ACTUAL MOVIE TICKETS.

Please present your movie vouchers to our staff by lining up according to your last name. You will then receive your movie tickets along with a gift bag, and an entry ticket for special event prizes & drawings. Then, LET THE FUN begin.

Details and Information:

For any additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact our office at any time as our office staff will be glad to assist you in any way possible. Our office telephone number is 904-269-2022.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Rapid Palatal Expanders - RPE's

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Extraction Therapy and Its Effects on Smiles

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Early Treatment Outcomes

Research studies into the overall treatment outcomes for orthodontic patients has been reviewed with the following conclusions:

1. Early orthodontic treatment does not provide any better treatment outcomes. Therefore, there are no distinct treatment advantages of early treatment.

2. Prolonged Phase I (Early) and Phase II treatment leads to patient "burn out" with less patient compliance resulting in inadequate oral hygiene care and orthodontic therapy over time.

3. When treatment efficiency as assessed, combining Phase I & Phase II therapy less efficient when compared to Phase II treatment alone with its corresponding shorter overall treatment time.

4. In reviewing orthodontic retention for Phase I patients, there are more retention problems in the younger patients as reported by Wheeler (AJO 2002) and Weislander (AJO 1993).

5. A clinical analysis of the "Best Treatment Time" for patients reveals that the ideal time is between the ages of 10-13 immediately following the exfoliation of the E's and in conjunction with the eruption of the 12-year molar teeth.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Skeletal Changes Associated With Early Treatment

Various research studies has been used to assess the effect of "Extraction Treatment" on skeletal changes to the facial profiles and overall "looks". McNamara (AJO 1985), Panchez (AJO 1985), Bacetti (AJO 2000), and Faltin (AL 2003) reported that "Extraction Treatment" protocols are not effective or even recommended for achieving skeletal changes. Additionally, extraction therapy does not cause any negative effects to the facial profile, and therefore, the unsubstantiated belief of altered profile changes was proven to be false.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Phase I & Phase II Treatment

Three randomized clinical trials were conducted at the University of North Carolina (Dr. Tulloch), the University of Florida (Dr. Wheeler), and the United Kingdom (Dr. O'Brien) to assess the clinical effectiveness of Phase I & Phase II therapy versus Phase II treatment by itself. Although these studies have evaluated many facets of orthodontic treatment outcomes, the overall conclusion of all three RCT's was that there is no clinically significant differences between Phase I therapy when combines with Phase II therapy versus Phase II treatment by itself. The only statistically significant difference was related to the overall treatment time, and the Phase II treatment was approximately seventeen (17) months shorter than the combined therapy of a Phase I and Phase II approach.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Extraction Treatment & TMD Syndrome

Although the concept of TMD and its relationship to premolar extraction therapy has a historically significant perspective in the field of orthodontics, the research in this area is definitive and conclusive. Essentially, there are several clinical investigations related to the topic of premolar extraction cases that have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that orthodontic treatment does not cause or contribute to TMD related symptoms.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Evidence Based Orthodontics

Early treatment philosophies in the field of orthodontics were frequently being based upon "personal opinion" through individual "testimonies" relative to treatment outcomes. Today, the specialty of orthodontics is moving to a higher standard of research investigative efforts and a hierarchy of clinical evidence has been established. Specifically, the hierarchy of evidence in ascending order from the "lowest" to the "highest" standard of evidence is as follows:

1. Expert Opinion
2. Case Report
3. Case Series
4. Case-Control Study
5. Cohert Study
6. Randomized Clinical Trial
7. Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis

The "Gold Standard" for the clinical research is the Randomized Clinical Trial, and the current trend in research is to make clinical treatment decisions based upon the evidence provided from a randomized clinical trial.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Contemporary Trends in Orthodontics

Technological advances in medical and dental therapy have made tremendous strides in recent years. Specifically, in the areas of orthodontic treatment modalities, patients have greater treatment choices and options than ever before in the history of dentistry. Recent 3-dimensional imaging have given birth to extremely precise methods of tooth movements with both Suresmile "robotics" which utilize traditional metal brackets and Invisalign aligners with clear plastic trays .... The Suresmile system does provide more consistency and superior results with the ability to overcome the more challenging orthodontic cases. With it expensive marketing campaign, Align Technology has been able to create a large market share for their Invisalign product although the use of the aligner appliances are more limited in the scope of treatment and overall orthodontic treatment.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign orthodontic treatment using aligner appliances has grown in acceptance over the past few years. The clinical experts discussed "Force Systems" and the relationships between aligners & braces. The application of orthodontic forces is essentially the same for both types of appliances although the speaker indicated that the "difficult" cases are truly very difficult with the invisalign aligner plastic appliance. Braces continue to provide superior predictability of treatment success with these more challenging cases. Other topics discussed during this presentation included "invisalign attachments" and the "segmental mechanics" associated treatment sequencing with aligner therapy. Case selection and proper treatment planning along with the sequential movements associated with tooth movements will facilitate successful therapeutic outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston) Risk Management

AAO panel discussion of Risk Management issues relative to the orthodontic practice in today's society. The panel discussed such topics as radiographic image quality, progress radiographic images, informed consent, informed refusal, effective treatment documentation, the referral of Cone Bean CT scans for radiographic evaluation by certified oral radiologists, electronic records systems, email correspondence, scanning orthodontically records for long-term storage capacity, records requests, patient communications, emergency contact methods, discontinuation of orthodontic treatment, and standard of care issues. This session was well-attended and enlightening. The speakers emphasized its recommendations for compliance and protection in cases of risk management exposure, and member attendance was rewarded with a premium reduction for the AAO sponsored policy coverage.

2009 AAO Meeting (Boston)

The 2009 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) meeting begins this week in Boston. The annual meeting agenda will provide the latest in orthodontic research and development with direct applications to the clinical treatment of orthodontic patients. Additionally, the technological advancements in 3D imaginary along with enhanced software development continue to improve therapeutic tools that will have strategic advantages in both the fields of medicine and dentistry. The specialty field of Orthodontics has seen dramatic changes within the past five years as seen in new treatment methodologies such as Suresmile, Invisalign, Cone Bean CT scans, and TAD's. As the 2009 AAO meeting convenes, updates will be provided so as to facilitate the distribution of the educational material within the dental community and to the general public at large.