I've always dreamed that what I write in this space will be greeted by responses ranging from adulation to the occasional threat of a sound whipping with a heat-activated NiTi wire. I didn't get either of those in answer to my last Editor's Message, but I did get some insightful comments that I'd like to share. Last month I made some suggestions for an Orthodontic Patient's Bill of Rights. Included in the list was the right to "regular progress reports directly from the orthodontist."

In response to this, Michael Geric, DMD, MS, from Tampa, Fla, wrote that written progress reports created more problems than they solved for him and "I doubt most parents are willing to make the time to meet with the doctor for a formal consult every 3 or 6 months. ... That is why we encourage parents to accompany their child to the treatment area for a status update nearly every appointment." This is exactly what I meant. Written reports make patients feel like we're back in school, but spending a minute or 2 of each appointment with our orthodontist and a mirror makes us feel like we are active participants in our treatment, rather than passive victims of it.

Michael J. Hilgers, DDS, MS, from Phoenix responded to my Patient's Bill of Rights with an Orthodontist's Bill of Rights. His first three articles were the following:

1. Patients must be on time to their appointments. No exceptions!
2. Patients must pay their bills on time.
3. Patients have no right to be abusive to the doctor or the staff, and consume their time with ridiculous questions.

He went on to write that, "When you look at all other professions, we do a pretty good job caring for our patients." I agree, but from a patient's perspective, the orthodontist is not the same as, say, the family doctor. During treatment, we see the orthodontist frequently, and these visits often cause us pain. For these and other reasons, ideal communication between patient and orthodontist should be as explicit as possible—perhaps extending to the posting of lists like mine and Hilgers'. So what's in your Bill of Rights? I'm excited to hear from you.

Christopher Piehler