Journal of Clinical Orthodonics
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THE EDITOR'S CORNER

Throughout the nearly half-century of JCO's history, our interviews of leading orthodontists from around the world have been among our most popular articles. Such orthodontic luminaries as Charles Tweed, Raymond Begg, Charles Burstone, Thomas Creekmore, Lysle Johnston, Fred Schudy, and countless others have been interviewed over the years. In this issue of JCO, Associate Editor Peter Sinclair introduces a new department based on that tradition: the Master Clinician series.

Our new feature will explore the treatment practices, theories, and philosophies of great clinicians who have helped define the current state of the art in orthodontic practice, through the vehicle of one-on-one interviews conducted by Dr. Sinclair. Our intent is to alternate between American clinicians and orthodontists from other  countries around the world.

Of course, the selection of the first subject posed a difficult decision. Since all of us on the editorial board of JCO have our "heroes"--I can say in all honesty that several of my personal heroes are on our editorial board--a number of names were immediately proposed. In the end, Dr. Sinclair prevailed by nominating a man who has served as a personal mentor to him and who is respected by everyone on our board and, indeed, by the entire profession. The luminary we selected has a long history with JCO, as both an author and a Contributing Editor: Dr. R.G. "Wick" Alexander.

Dr. Alexander exemplifies everything good about our specialty. He has a strong sense of responsibility to his patients, to his profession, and to his community. Wick combines a myriad of talents. His treatment philosophy, the Alexander Discipline, has a worldwide following. As Dr. Sinclair points out, he has taught hundreds of students who are now successful orthodontists, practicing all over the globe. In addition to his articles published in JCO and elsewhere, Wick has authored two essential textbooks. He is also a gifted researcher, focusing on orthodontic treatment and treatment outcomes. His "Room of Truth" has served as the source of data for many graduate orthodontic theses and more than a few papers that are now regarded as classics in the orthodontic literature.

In the inaugural issue of what was then called the Journal of Practical Orthodontics, JCO's founding Editor, Dr. Eugene Gottlieb, defined the role and mission of the journal as follows: "JPO is a journal of orthodontic practice. It was conceived as a meeting place for orthodontists to share their knowledge and experience. While it will not neglect areas of basic information and philosophy of treatment, JPO will concentrate on the treatment of the orthodontic patient and the administration of the orthodontic office. . .We can all learn from each other. Let JPO be a window on the orthodontic world today."

Everything written in that initial Editor's Corner 45 years ago remains true today. There is no doubt that "we can all learn from each other", and who better to learn from than the acknowledged masters who have defined clinical orthodontic practice? Although I have tremendous respect for our orthodontic researchers, professors, and academicians, the best teachers are the master clinicians--the practitioners who lead the way and set the standard for what day-to-day orthodontics can and should be.

Within this frame of reference, it is entirely fitting that Dr. Alexander should be our first Master Clinician. Anyone who has ever heard one of his presentations, taken one of his courses, read one of his books, or--best of all--visited the Room of Truth will understand my perspective. I learn something new from every interaction I have with Dr. Alexander, and Dr. Sinclair's interview is no exception. I feel blessed to count them both of them as my colleagues and friends. In the months ahead, we will spotlight other Master Clinicians from around the world. Given Dr. Sinclair's penchant for excellence, I expect to learn a great deal from every one of them.

RGK

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Fig. 1 Clutch fabrication - still the key procedure with any recording device. A. Mixing cold-cure material. B. Placing cold-cure material into clutch former. C. Inserting clutch former into patient's mouth. D. Completed clutches.
Fig. 2 Clutches in mouth disengage teeth, so that all recordings are of the Posterior Determinants (temporomandibular joint and ligaments).
Fig. 3 Anterior crossbars added to clutches.
Fig. 4 Special hinge axis flags added to cross bars.
Fig. 5 Addition of microadjustable side arms for hinge axis determination. Zero degree line on the hinge axis flag is made parallel to the hinge axis - third reference point line. This makes the hinge axis flag parallel to the top of the articulator; and, therefore, parallel to the zero degree line of protrusive on the articulator.
Fig. 6 The pointer on the microadjustable side arm is placed at the zero mm point. (Prototype design credit goes to Dr. Jack Holt, Phoenix, Arizona.)
Fig. 7A When patient is asked to go into protrusive, the degree of protrusive movement is read off the hinge axis flag. No mounting of recording device on the articulator is necessary. In this case, the protrusive is 40° on patient's right side.
Fig. 7B Demonstrating protrusive. a. Hinge axis flag with degrees. b. Protrusive in glenoid fossa. c. Protrusive contacts on molars. d. Protrusive line on Denar pantograph.
Fig. 8A Patient is guided into lateral movement. If pointer moves off zero before jaw begins its progressive Bennett movement, this is the immediate Bennett. This procedure requires an articulator that can accept both an immediate and a progressive Bennett side shift. This patient has a .4mm immediate side shift.
Fig. 8C a. Drawing of instrument. b. Implication on molars of an immediate side shift. c. Condyle in fossa, with an immediate side shift.
Fig. 8B Note how parallel all progressive side shifts are in Lundeen and Wirth article. We automatically plug a 6° progressive side shift into our Denar articulators.
Fig. 9 After hinge axis location has been marked on patient's skin, the analyzer is removed and a face bow transfer accomplished.
Fig. 10 Centric bite.
Fig. 11 Face bow now ready to mouth upper cast to articulator.
Fig. 12 Excursive articulator movements follow Pantograph lines well, indicating accuracy of mini-recorder.

DR. ROBERT G. KEIM DDS, EdD, PhD

Dr. Keim is Editor, JCO. E-mail: editor@jco-online.com.

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