American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Readers’ forum 127

Volume 130, Number 2

History of functional appliances already successful program more widely available to its
members. It has been a pleasure working with the AAO
I have enjoyed reading the special articles by Norm Wahl leaders and staff, and we look forward to making a much-
retracing the history of orthodontics in 3 millennia. I espe- needed impact in our specialty well into the future.
cially appreciated the inclusion in “Chapter 9: Functional D. Douglas Depew
appliances to mid-century” (2006;129:829-33) of the devel- Academic Director, Academy of Orthodontic Assisting
opment of the tooth positioner by my grandfather, the late Kennesaw, Ga
Harold D. Kesling. The tooth positioner, as correctly stated, is Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;130:127
a custom appliance made over a setup of the patient’s teeth. 0889-5406/$32.00
Copyright © 2006 by the American Association of Orthodontists.
However, the Pre-Finisher, currently marketed by TP Orth- doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2006.06.005
odontics (LaPorte, Ind), is not a custom appliance. It was
created by my father, Peter C. Kesling, in 1978 as a finishing
appliance that did not require impressions or the creation of a
setup. Its function is similar to a custom tooth positioner, but An open letter to the ABO: Righting
a Pre-Finisher is be expected to provide and maintain detailed past wrongs
changes if it is used for long-term retention.
Christopher K. Kesling What does it mean to be disenfranchised? Among other
Westville, Ind things, it means to be deprived of some privilege. Why has
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;130:127 the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) sought for so
0889-5406/$32.00 many years to deprive a segment of our society from that
Copyright © 2006 by the American Association of Orthodontists. which is now attainable by our most recent orthodontic
doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2006.07.001
graduates? Obviously, I’m referring to board certification.
Who are the disenfranchised to whom I refer? Why, they are
the educators who teach our students. What am I talking
Author’s response about? Okay, here it is in plain and simple language.
The comments of Dr Philip and Dr Kesling are well We all agree, or at least I thought we did, that there is a
taken. Thank you for making these additions to the history of crisis in orthodontic education; that’s what we have been told.
cephalometrics. Apparently, very few of us want to go into full-time academia
Norman Wahl because it’s far too lucrative to be in private practice. Because
Sequim, Wash of this, we now have a significant number of foreign-trained
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;130:127 orthodontists teaching in our programs. These doctors are not
0889-5406/$32.00 eligible for licensure in most states, and so their only option
Copyright © 2006 by the American Association of Orthodontists.
for a career in orthodontics in the United States is in
doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2006.06.008
orthodontic education. Let me say at the outset that the
overwhelming majority of these young doctors are bright,
Staff training caring, dedicated young teachers and researchers who love
orthodontics and this specialty. Last but not least, they are
Thank you for the fine editorial in the May issue about the really well trained, they know their stuff, and I am proud to
staff training program (Turpin DL. Educating the orthodontic call them colleagues. Many of them went through programs
team. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;129:593). You far more rigorous than some of our US and Canadian (US/C)
definitely captured the essence of what we are doing and accredited programs. They are as good as any graduate of a
provided ample encouragement for AAO members to become US/C program at the same time in their careers.
involved. Having said this, it makes no sense that the ABO
I have often met people in professions other than orth- steadfastly refuses to allow these doctors to sit for the Phase II
odontics who are surprised and shocked that, before the written examination. What is the magical privilege that
Academy of Orthodontic Assisting, there was no formal attaches itself only to one who is a US/C orthodontic
training available for orthodontic assistants in the United graduate? Wait, I know; it’s the old “if you didn’t graduate
States. Most people assumed otherwise. from a US/C school, there is no way to determine your quality
This program not only is designed for new assistants, but of education” argument. Let’s explore that logic for a second,
also is very appropriate for experienced assistants and other since that’s all it’s worth. The education they received was
staff members. Although the course requires self-motivation good enough to allow these doctors to teach didactics to our
and dedicated study time to complete successfully, it can be students; the education they received was good enough to
completed by most people by studying in the evenings for 2 allow them to clinically supervise our students; the education
or 3 months. One goal of this program is to raise the they received was good enough to allow them to submit
knowledge base of all our staff and, in turn, the level of care questions for the phase II written examination. Yet, their
our patients receive, and the level of trust and confidence that education is not good enough to allow them to take the
our patients and prospective patients have in us. examination. Now there’s logic for you.
We are happy to join forces with the AAO to make this If the purpose of the examination is to test whether