The problem with the Invisalign program is that it's taught in the same manner as everything else at the predoctoral level in ortho -- we're "taught" endlessly on case selection and when to refer but next to nothing on the science, biomechanics, or possibilities of the actual treatment modality. I've heard this is a national problem and not just isolated to NYU. It seems like a turf war and ortho is trying to hold onto the "secrets" of tooth movement. But I'd love to learn how to tip a molar or extrude a tooth prior to implant placement. Ortho is so much more than knowing when to refer -- it should be knowing what ortho can do! It's a tremendously interdisciplinary field and can help almost any fixed pros case, but we're taught jack about that. And nevermind learning any of the craniofacial stuff. Sigh...
Our invisalign course consisted of five lectures on how to fill out the paperwork and how to see if a case qualifies. At the predoc level we only use the anterior product (mostly for relapse or minor cosmetic movement - if you want to do full-case ortho after you graduate you need more training) and our final exam consisted of correctly diagnosing a case as one that qualifies for the anterior product or one we should refer for comprehensive ortho. We had an ortho seminar that, again, taught us when to refer (always) and for what. Our final exam consisted of coming up with a problem list and what to write on our referral to the orthodontist -- growth modification, comprehensive ortho treatment, or orthognathic sx. Our senior year class in ortho consisted of one class to retest us on our ability to properly refer.
I think the faculty in ortho at NYU are very nice. I think they care. I just think they're trying to hold their specialty a little too close to their chest. Our first year we had a lecture from all the department chairs so they could describe their specialty. The ortho guy (who's ego is larger than his waistline, somehow) stood up, huffed over to the mike, said "you'll all want to do ortho but none of you will get in", then shuffled away. That about sums it up.
I'm pretty happy with NYU and think they have some stellar PG programs. Pros and Perio are probably the best in the country (but expensive), OS has some of the best names in the biz with bertolami, schmidt, and hirsch, endo teaches all the cool stuff -- even implants, the esthetics program is amazing, and there are international programs in just about everything. It's an international powerhouse of dentisty -- I just don't think very highly of the ortho program here. And neither do any of the students who apply for ortho. Or the senior honors students. Nor does my resident friend. In fact, corticotomy, you're the first person I've heard who gave NYU ortho a positive review.
