110 Department of reviews and abstracts

by lO-second drying 10 times. Corrosion was observed after autoclave sterilization but not after reaction with SAEW. These results suggest that the corrosive action of SAEW on orthodontic material is less and reaction of orthodontic instruments with SAEW for a short time followed by drying may be useful.

Alex Jacobson

/ Effets verticaux de la mecanique de fermeture d'espace

R. Mannchen, P.w. Stockli Reviewtrimestrielle, 1997;31: 191-230

In extraction treatment, the extraction site is not only important sagitally, but also from a vertical point of view. It has been stated that the more distal the extraction site, the deeper the bite. Space-closing mechanics along a stiff wire revealed no vertical dimensional changes regardless of which teeth were extracted. The different vertical positions of the centers of resistance of the teeth were shown to have little effect on the vertical dimension. No significant rotations of the occlusal plane were anticipated from the mechanics, which were purely biomechanical. If occlusal plane rotations are observed clinically, other components such as different initial tipping and torque, mesial drift, tongue, cheek and lip influences, as well as occlusal forces were attributed as being the cause.

Alex Jacobson

Tough Questions. Great Answers: Responding to Patient Concerns about Today's Dentistry

Robin Wright, MA Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc. 1997; 152 pages, 8 illustrations; $26.00.

Dental care often cannot be seen, held, sampled, or returned if unsuitable. Unlike products, dentistry is an intan­gible service the quality of which is often difficult for patients to judge, except by the way in which the service is delivered. Patient satisfaction is created by healthy communication between the health care provider and the patient. Patient dis­satisfaction on the other hand usually is not because of lack of proper care, but due to lack of understanding or inadequate communication between the doctor and patient and/or the office personnel.

The book is a treatise of how to effectively communicate with patients in order to build trust and provide the practice with a positive image. Listening to the patient and responding to that patient's concerns is crucial to building a doctor­patient relationship. Various techniques and suggestions are provided on how to communicate with patients in order to build trust, explain quality dentistry, increase treatment acceptance, discuss fees, and protect patient relationships. At the end of each chapter, questions, many challenging, based

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics January 1999

on hypothetical situations are asked. Following the questions are possible suitable answers provided by colleagues from around the country.

The soft cover book is a guide that provides a host of fresh communication ideas that can be recommended and usefully applied in any dental practice. Possibly even more important, such information should be almost mandatory reading for all dental or specialist office personnel.

Alex Jacobson

L'orthopedie dento-maxillo-faciale, I'orthodontie et al theorie de Roux sur I'adaptation fonctionnelle

Rolf Frankel Rev Orthop Dento Faciale 1997;31:169-83

The author refers to the two Roux's theoretical concepts developed along the lines of general functional adaptation and "functional maxillary orthopedics," this last denomina­tion as proposed by Haupl. In addition, the author questions the action of those functional appliances that do not work like orthopedic exercisor devices (ie, regulators of function). These devices modify the alveolar processes orthopedically but do not induce any apprenticeship of new functional schemes, as proposed by Roux in the concept of functional orthopedics. The major aim of this work is to determine whether the Roux's concepts can be applied to maxillary orthopedics, considering that occlusion has to be thought of as functionally related to the temporomandibular joint. The author draws therapeutic obligatory inference. He finally concludes that a difference can no longer be found between orthodontic therapy and functional maxillary orthopedics. Every clinician should be reminded of E. Angle's assertion: "Orthodontic treatments are very unlikely to succeed, if the functional disorders are still going on."

The Arc Index in Evaluation of Class III Malocclusion

Alex Jacobson

Chia-Tze Kao, Tsui-Hsien Huang, Fu-Ming Chen, and Tsai-Yuan Lin Int J Adult Orthod Orthognath Surg 1997;12:135-43

Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained for 46 individuals (18 men and 28 women) aged 20 to 30 years. The sample consisted of Taiwanese with Class III malocclusions and prognathic facial profiles. A modification of the Sassouni arch analysis was used to evaluate this group. All parameters were compared with the norms for adult Taiwanese. The facial pattern of the Class III group was similar to that report­ed in other studies. The maxilla was in a retrusive position; the lengths of the maxilla and the mandible were significant­ly different from those in the normal group; the mandibular central incisor was retroinclined; and the total gonial angle, upper gonial angle, and lower gonial angle in the Class III