Category: Evidence & Research

The Disappearance of Excellence: One Orthodontist’s Opinion.

~ Shadi Samawi ~ 6 Comments
A Guest Blog Post by Prof. Arnold J. Malerman  DDS;  Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

“The difference between a good Orthodontist and a great Orthodontist is attention to detail.” ~ Brainerd F. Swain, DDS

Today marks the start of an interesting series of Guest Blog Posts by prominent figures and authorities in the orthodontic community from around the world, who have graciously agreed to share their personal viewpoints regarding some important issues related to the orthodontic profession, here on The Orthodontic Notefile. The aim of these guest blog posts is to raise awareness and start a wider discussion of varying points of view regarding many debatable issues facing the orthodontic profession today, therefore your participation in the discussion in the comments section below is highly encouraged and welcome.

In the first of these guest posts, Professor Arnold J. Malerman; Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, shares with us his personal opinion regarding what he believes to be three major issues facing orthodontists in the 21st century.

Continue reading “The Disappearance of Excellence: One Orthodontist’s Opinion.” →

The 4 Keys to Mastery of Orthodontic Finishing; A Free New Orthodontic eBook

~ Shadi Samawi ~ Leave a comment
The 4 Keys to Mastery of Orthodontic Finishing - Shadi Samawi - 2015
“Order And Simplicity Are The First Steps Towards Mastery Of A Subject. ”  – Thomas Mann

As the saying goes: “Good is the new Average.”
In this age of high public demand for beautiful, natural-looking smiles and ever- increasing self-confidence, as well as the need for more rigorous scientific-based standards of care, there should be really no place for mediocrity.

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Communication 101 for Orthodontists

~ Shadi Samawi ~ Leave a comment

“A doctor, like anyone else who has to deal with human beings … cannot be just a scientist; he is either, like the surgeon, a craftsman, or, like the physician and the psychologist, an artist. This means that in order to be a good doctor a man must also have a good character, that is to say, whatever weaknesses and foibles he may have, he must love his fellow human beings in the concrete sense and desire their good before his own.”

— W. H. Auden

“With the evolution from a paternalistic to an autonomous (self-rule) perspective of health care delivery, many patients no longer unconditionally accept a doctor’s expert authority to dictate therapy without considering options. The doctor’s communication style must therefore convey an appreciation of the patient’s concerns and complaints, as well as verbal skills that involve the patient in the decision-making process—all in an empathetic, personalized manner.”
– Peter Greco (The Salient Skill. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2015;147:301)

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Spotting The Evidence: How to Develop Evidence-based Dentistry Skills

~ Shadi Samawi ~ Leave a comment

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”   ~ Christopher Hitchens

As dental professionals interested in life-long learning and improvement, developing our competency in assessing the “evidence” presented in various dental research articles, journals and texts that we may encounter – and in fact, should be seeking ourselves! – is an essential and indispensable skill.

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From Good to Great!

~ Shadi Samawi ~ Leave a comment

“The Pleasures of writing correspond exactly to the pleasures of reading.” ~ Vladimir Nabokov

I recently had the pleasure – and privilege – of writing the “Smile Message”  to readers of the latest issue of Smile Dental Journal, entitled “From Good to Great!“.

The message is about the importance of incorporating new and proven digital technology into 21st Century dental practices, especially in Orthodontics.

Continue reading “From Good to Great!” →

Checklists in Clinical Practice: A Simple Driver for Excellence

~ Shadi Samawi ~ 5 Comments

“Checklists seem able to defend anyone, even the experienced, against failure in many more tasks than we realized.”

― Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

What Do We Mean By A Checklist?

As per the definition of Hales et al;  A checklist is an organized tool that outlines criteria of consideration for a particular process. It functions as a support resource by delineating and categorizing items as a list—a format that simplifies conceptualization and recall of information.

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“Rapid” Orthodontics.. Is There Such A Thing.. Yet?

~ Shadi Samawi ~ Leave a comment

“I’m in no hurry: the sun and the moon aren’t, either. Nobody goes faster than the legs they have. If where I want to go is far away, I’m not there in an instant.”
― Alberto Caeiro, The Collected Poems of Alberto Caeiro

In certain orthodontic marketing circles, the answer would be: Well, Of course there is!

© Shadi Samawi
© Shadi Samawi

However, as always, what we are really concerned with is scientific evidence rather than pure marketing talk. In this post, I would like to highlight some of the biological factors and limitations that are known to exist and this should make us think twice before flatly accepting such claims of faster tooth movement.

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The Key..

~ Shadi Samawi ~ 2 Comments

“The shortest distance between a human being and truth is a story.” ~ Anthony de Mello

Almost 10 years ago, at the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) meeting in Paris, France, I attended a full day course by the late & great Dr. Vince Kokich. It was one of the most memorable courses I have ever had the pleasure of attending in my professional career to date. A very engaging and knowledgeable speaker, Dr. Kokich thrilled us with his brilliant Continue reading “The Key..” →