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Orthodontists Who Share Orthodontics by Dr. Chad Foster

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Categories: Orthodontics;
Orthodontists Who Share Orthodontics

by Chad Foster, DDS, MS, editorial director

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
— President Theodore Roosevelt

There are so many orthodontists that selflessly serve our profession in a variety of ways. This includes but is not limited to those in academia, research and development, organized dentistry, and outreach organizations just to name just a few. They and many others deserve recognition for the work they do to benefit their peers and our profession. My specific gratitude in this month’s column, however, goes out to a very small group of orthodontists whom I consider to truly be the men and women of our orthodontic arena in the spirit of Roosevelt’s definition.

These are the orthodontists who openly share their clinical work with their colleagues. Whether it happens through a pen, a keyboard or a microphone, these orthodontists step down from the safety and anonymity of the crowd to do so. More than just offering thoughts and opinions, these orthodontists offer their orthodontics. While there is also great value in the sharing of non-clinical material, make no mistake about it, the dirt, sweat and blood on the arena floor is earned by those risking more than words. The high reward offered in that game —the opportunity to have your very personal and imperfect craft analyzed, dissected, and sometimes misunderstood and rejected. Furthermore, except for those who act only as mouthpieces for a company, the far majority who do it, do so solely to benefit their colleagues and to advance the specialty they love.


A difficult path but one of meaning
The clinicians that share their work are not better than those who do not. Without a doubt, some of the very best orthodontic clinicians in the world don’t hold a pen, keyboard or microphone platform. I don’t blame orthodontists who choose to not share their clinical work—it is tremendously time-consuming and tedious.

It is also the epitome of professional vulnerability in orthodontics. It is not easy, not comfortable, and not for the faint of heart. It is badass.

There are many that I look up to that have done it much better and longer than I have. But to those out there that would consider sharing in the future, allow me to offer insight for your consideration. With many paths of little substance available before you, this is one of real meaning.

If you can embrace and endure the humility of the process, it will absolutely make you both a better orthodontist and a better version of yourself on the other side of it. As it pertains to orthodontics, the forced self-reflection, learning and evolution is nothing short of a clinical performance enhancing drug. It is the most effective form of CE that you will ever participate in. Ask any orthodontist who has shared their work consistently over a long period of time.

On a more personal level, the unavoidable ego bloodletting (the inherent pain of the path) eventually becomes a very personal internal practice, one that will allow you to live out your relationships with others and with yourself with a greater level of love, humility, tolerance, acceptance and freedom.
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