CONTENTS

Editor’s Choice

David L. Turpin, Editor-in-Chief

ADA initiates development oforthodontic informatics standardsWilliam E. Harrell, Jr, Sharon Stanford, and Paul Bralower

During the last AAO Annual Session, the AAOCouncil on Education sponsored a workshop on distancelearning with Internet II. Concerns raised by educatorsinclude the transportability of records, the need for high-resolution images, HIPAA requirements, the authenticityof digital records, and dependence on large corporations.How can the practitioner have a say as standards fordigital images are developed?

These authors report that the American Dental Asso-ciation (ADA) is the answer. The ADA Standards Com-mittee for Dental Informatics seeks volunteers from theorthodontic community to join the working group that willdevelop the standards for our specialty. This group willaddress such items as dental practice systems, diagnostics,clinical peripheral devices and software, electronic datainterchange, computer-based patient record interfaces, aswell as dental education and research systems. If you areinterested in the future of orthodontic informatics, thisarticle is the place to start.

Perceptions and attitudes of Canadianorthodontists regarding digital andelectronic technologyNeal G. Palmer, James R. Yacyshyn, Herbert C. Northcott,Brian Nebbe, and Paul W. Major

As digital and electronic media become more wide-spread in orthodontics, what are practitioners’ attitudesabout their usefulness? Do most orthodontists believetechnology can increase office efficiency and productiv-ity? What are the obstacles to the general use of newtechnology?

The data for answering these and other questionscame from a survey of 304 Canadian orthodontists. Ninetypercent of those surveyed thought that computer technol-ogy could improve current practice by reducing radiationexposure, reducing time required to transfer records,

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2005;128:14A0889-5406/$30.00Copyright © 2005 by the American Association of Orthodontists.

doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2005.06.004

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increasing practice efficiency and production, improvingcommunication, and reducing record storage require-ments. Other efficiencies include improved case diagno-sis, higherd patient satisfaction, reduced appointmenttimes, and increased starts. However, over half the respon-dents considered cost a significant obstacle. The authorsbelieve additional research is needed to determine howinformation technology can benefit practice by increasingcase starts, reducing appointment times, and cutting officeexpenses.

Comparing digital and conventionalcephalometric radiographsJason M. Cohen

When different cephalometric units are used to takeconsecutive radiographs, you must standardize the mag-nification before making comparisons. The problem iscompounded when 1 image is a conventional radiographand the other is digital. How can you compare a conven-tional cephalogram with standard 9.8% magnificationwith a digital cephalogram with 13% magnification? Thedetails are in the doing, and this article is a good referencefor every clinician.

Radiation protection guidelines for thepracticing orthodontistMuralidhar Mupparapu

With the increased cost of radiographic equipmentand concerns with magnification differences, are therecompelling reasons for the typical practitioner to godigital? This article reviews dental x-ray guidelines sup-ported by the National Council on Radiation Protectionand Measurements Report #145. These guidelines governthe use of leaded aprons and thyroid collars, rectangularcollimation for intraoral radiographs, film evaluation,office protection programs, and radiation safety trainingfor all staff. The author notes that orthodontists shouldconsider converting to digital radiographic modalities forradiation dose reduction and ease of storage, retrieval, andtransfer of information. Read the Commentary by Jan Bell

for some thoughts on a routine practice in many offices.