Clinical Success in Early Orthodontic Treatment

Drawing from both empirical and evidence-based information, they offer a rationale to justify earlier treatment in a number of commonly encountered clinical situations, along with numerous appliances (both removable and fixed) that can be used to effect maxillary sutural changes and/or dentoalveolar alterations. The photographs, diagrams, and tables are of excellent quality.

The work of Ricketts and Gugino was obviously an important foundation for this book. Creating a more favorable dentofacial environment for the growing individual is a major goal of the authors. Time-honored procedures such as preserving critical "leeway space" in the mixed dentition, maxillary expansion (sutural and dental), and the use of adjunctive appliances (lip bumpers, utility arches, facial masks, etc.) to favorably alter intra- and interarch relationships are described. Still, the relative absence of dogma is refreshing. While the text clearly favors nonextraction strategies, it does present a balanced view of extracting permanent teeth, when indicated, as one of the realities of orthodontics.

This is a textbook for clinicians. Although a considerable amount of information on growth and development is merely summarized, a number of important clinical pearls are scattered throughout the text. Orthodontic educators will find the book useful in preparing lectures and seminars, however, and postgraduate orthodontic residents and clinicians who either have experience in early treatment or would like to augment their use of such therapies will find it to be indispensable.

ELLIOTT M. MOSKOWITZ, DDS, MSD