The arrival of Orthodontic therapy: Fundamental treatment concepts adds to the lexicon of the Dental Color Atlas series, edited by Herbert F. Wolf and published by Thieme Medical Publishers. Featured on the cover of this heavy hardback volume is the molecular structure of proteins together with maloccluded teeth, hinting at the contained wide encompassment of orthodontic therapy.

The contents are divided into 7 sections, from fundamental problems to detailed treatments of crossbites, deepbites, open bites, Class II and Class III malocclusions, and extraction therapy. Each section is lavishly illustrated.

The biomechanics of tooth movements are extensively explored, with details of tipping, bodily movement, extrusion, rotation, torque, and resorption tied in with genetics and syndromology. The color figures brilliantly portray the cytokinesis underlying bone morphogenesis and provide the intricate biologic fundamentals of tooth reorientations.

The treatment modalities are portrayed in step-by-step methods, with the underlying rationale explained in numerous case figures of orthodontic brackets, wires, and banding. The treatment concepts include esthetics, functional masticatory efficiency, integration of retained teeth, anchorage options, finishing, and retention in both youngsters and adults. Extensive legends and running texts are interspersed between facial profiles, cephalograms, x-rays, and bracket and archwire depictions. Interestingly, failed treatments are not featured.

The detailed textual information is abetted by extensive references in the terminal bibliography, with heavy citation emphasis on the senior author’s numerous publications.

Among the extensive mechanical treatment modalities discussed, surprisingly no mention is made of the recent introduction of the aligner orthodontics such as the Invisalign System of treatment with its ClinChek software for diagnosing and planning treatment. Furthermore, there is no mention of other 3-dimensional computer created methodologies that facilitate treatment planning and enable customization of bracket prescription and robotic generation of custom archwires. The computer’s capability of modifying tooth positions and potentially creating an “ideal” occlusion before treatment is nothing less than astounding. This omission of the latest technologies in a newly published orthodontic textbook is a detracting factor in advocating its recommendation as an essential requirement of current orthodontic orthodoxy.

This new addition to the orthodontic literature is very much European-based and does not entirely reflect the American treatment philosophy espoused in the recent publication of the 6th edition of Orthodontics: Current principles and techniques , edited by Graber, Vanarsdall, Vig, and Huang (St Louis: Elsevier; 2017) and recently reviewed in this Journal .