The World Wide Web of orthodontics- A comprehensive narrative on teledentistry pertaining to the orthodontics of the 21st century.

Teledentistry has proven effective in practically all dental fields. It also allows access to inaccessible and underdeveloped locations. Better treatment outcomes were documented in patients treated by an orthodontist supervised by teledentistry than by a general dentist with minimal orthodontic experience alone. It may also help to focus referrals to specialists and weed out those who do not need them. But, on a critical note, a doctor-patient relationship is much more than a business transaction. A face-to-face initial consultation instills trust that a remote session cannot. Teledentistry includes professional networking of doctors. This contact includes digital information exchange, CPD programs, case discussions, and analysis that bring dentists from all around the world together to improve patient care. Teledentistry has not only spanned the distance between dentists worldwide, but has also served as a conduit between customer (patient) and manufacturer. This spawned Direct to Consumer (DTC) dentistry, sparking substantial debate among dentists worldwide. In DTC dentistry, inadequately trained customers conduct complex procedures on themselves with minimal guidance of a dentist. One of the major issues today is the general availability of clear aligners to patients without the requirement for an intermediary skilled orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has publicly questioned the validity of Smile Direct Club, a private firm that dominates the DTC industry. European Federation of Orthodontic Specialists Association, on the other hand, has sponsored a joint declaration with the representative orthodontic associations in Europe to highlight and alert patients about the potential risks of DTC products. Unfortunately, public shaming hasn't slowed commercialization of DTC firms. Teledentistry has been a boon for healthcare, but a nightmare for our profession, raising fundamental questions like what is the difference between a customer and a patient? Is dentistry a just another discipline of cosmetics? Is teledentistry making us less connected with our patients?

The cell phone quandary.

Cell phones are used by almost everyone and have become an integral part of our daily life. They are an almost universal instrument for gathering and transmitting information. The amount of bacteria crawling on a typical cell phone has been a point of contention, although studies show that they contain at least 10 times the amount of bacteria found on most toilet seats. As medical workers in hospital and clinic settings, we use our cell phones extensively, for paging, texting, calling, and recreational activities; thus, the risk of contamination by pathogens is a legitimate issue. Cell phones in the operating room may give patients the impression that they are not the main priority or the center of care, in addition to being a potential source of infection. Cell phones also have been found to be the number-one productivity killer in workplaces, amongst a long list of other distractions. All workers must be fully aware of their Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance responsibilities and obligations, including the protection of health information, while using their cell phones at workplaces. On clinic or hospital grounds, reasonable diligence and strict adherence to cell phone policies may help us maintain greater safety, productivity, and professionalism, resulting in better service for our patients.

Physiologic Midtreatment Tooth Movement as a Correction Strategy for Iatrogenic Root Exposure.

In the case report showcased, we describe orthodontic treatment of a female patient with an excessive gingival display on smiling and severe dental crowding, with maxillary canines positioned excessively buccal (ectopic) to and in near transposition to the lateral incisors. The treatment involved extractions and initial use of unmitigated forces leading to excessive gingival thinning and buccal root positioning of the ectopic canines. Eventually, the root position was corrected and periodontal equilibrium was attained. On finishing the treatment, all objectives were achieved with a good esthetic outcome as well as excellent dental and occlusal relationships.