162
Orthodontics: Current principles
and techniques, 6th ed
Lee W. Graber, Robert L. Vanarsdall, Katherine W. L. Vig,
Greg J. Huang, editors; St Louis: Elsevier; 2017; $202.05
hardcover; also available for Kindle
Reviewed by Ki Beom Kim
O rthodontics has progressed greatly in the last
decade. Many new devices and concepts have
been developed, whereas others have disappeared. Ran-
domized trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses
have shown that some things we believed to be true
are actually false, or at least not as simple as we once
thought. There is an abundance of information, but it
is not always easy to find credible references. The
emphasis on evidence-based practice is becoming
increasingly important, since commercially driven claims
are readily available. We often refer to textbooks to
obtain necessary information, but not many textbooks
contain the most up-to date information.
Tom Graber was the first editor of Orthodontics: Current
principles and techniques in the late 1960s. Since then, this
book has been one of the most widely used textbooks in the
world. Four editors of the new sixth edition—Lee W. Graber,
Robert L. Vanarsdall, Katherine W. L. Vig, and Greg J.
Huang—are world-renowned researchers and educators.
Unfortunately, we lost Dr Vanarsdall this year, and the
book is even more significant since it is his last contribution
to orthodontics. Sixty-five internationally acclaimed ex-
perts participated as coauthors and discussed a range of
topics, from the foundations of orthodontics to the current
orthodontic-related research and techniques.
This book is divided into 6 parts: Foundations of or-
thodontics, Diagnosis and treatment planning, Mixed
dentition diagnosis and treatment, Orthodontic treat-
ment, Specialized treatment considerations, and Or-
thodontic retention and post-treatment changes. A
seventh section, Classic chapters, is available online
only. This voluminous book cannot be described in
detail here, but a few chapter highlights can be
mentioned.
Part 1, Foundations of orthodontics, includes a chap-
ter by Charles Burstone, “Application of bioengineering
to clinical orthodontics.” Burstone was the mastermind
behind orthodontic biomechanics. He finished writing
the chapter not long before he passed away. In it, he ex-
plains the basic concepts of physics to complex ortho-
dontic problems and the manipulation of various
orthodontic appliances.
January 2018  Vol 153  Issue 1 American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Book reviews
In part 2, Proffit and Nguyen contributed chapter 8,
“The decision-making process in orthodontics.” This
chapter provides a method of decision-making in ortho-
dontics and how to systematically evaluate patient in-
formation for everyday practice.
In chapter 16, “Optimizing orthodontics and dento-
facial orthopedics: treatment timing and mixed denti-
tion therapy,” McNamara provides a systematic
approach to intervening and reducing the severity of a
developing malocclusion in the mixed dentition.
Part 4 consists of 11 chapters that cover a range of or-
thodontic treatment techniques, from traditional
(“Contemporary straightwire biomechanics,” “Standard
edgewise,” “Nonextraction,” “Bonding”) to interdisci-
plinary (“Adult interdisciplinary therapy,” “Periodontal-or-
thodontic interrelationships,” “Orthognathic surgery”), to
newer or specialized topics (“Temporary anchorage de-
vices,” “Self-ligating bracket biomechanics,” “Lingual
appliance treatment”). In chapter 26, “Clear aligner treat-
ment,” Paquette, Colville, and Wheeler focus on the Invis-
align system. They show how to diagnose, plan treatment
with ClinCheck software, and achieve various orthodontic
tooth movements with the Invisalign system.
Thetopicofpart5,Specializedtreatmentconsiderations,
includes many outstanding contributions. In “Management
of impactions,” Becker and Chaushu review the etiology of
impactions, their prevalence, surgical technique, and trac-
tion mechanisms for correcting them. They also discuss fail-
ures based on patient-dependent factors, orthodontist-
dependent factors, and surgeon-dependent factors. Same-
shima and Darendeliler, in their chapter, “Iatrogenic effects
of orthodontic treatment: prevention and management of
demineralized white lesions,” discuss white spot lesions,
root resorption, and how to minimize these unwanted con-
sequences related to orthodontic treatment.
Part 6 covers the important topic of retention and
posttreatment changes, and includes recommendations
for controlling changes based on retention studies at
the University of Washington.
For readers willing to go online, the editors have
added part 7, a collection of classic chapters.
This book shows the wide range of current orthodon-
tic topics, from basic science to current clinical tech-
niques with new concepts. One third of the material in
this edition is new, compared with previous editions. I
believe this book will be a great reference for academics
and graduate students as well as clinicians.
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2018;153:162
0889-5406/$36.00
Ó 2017 by the American Association of Orthodontists. All rights
reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2017.11.009